ALLY LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 9

Actions & Practices of an Ally

OBJECTIVES#1-Participants will be introduced to the Stretch

Zone & Danger Zone

#2- Participants will be introduced to the 7 key actions needed to be in the Stretch Zone

#3-Participants will be introduced to the five ways of thinking that lead to the Danger Zone

Stretch Zone

Stretch Zone

Panic Zone

Comfort Zone

Dead Zone

Stretch Zone • The Stretch Zone is the

place where we challenge ourselves & organizations to stretch to discover new opportunities, possibilities & solutions.

• Moving into the “Stretch Zone” requires a deliberate & disciplined focus.

Moving Towards the Stretch ZoneConcepts to follow to move into the Stretch Zone:1. Beginner’s Mind 2. Floodlight Thinking3. Must Haves4. Be a Duck5. Gentle Wind6. Eat the Frog7. Rationality

Danger ZoneThe Danger Zone is a place where an individual or

organization is at risk of failing, causing harm or just surviving due to their actions or beliefs.

Some of the ways to enter the Danger Zone:• “The Comfort Zone”• “The Expert’s Mind”• “The Panic Zone”

ALLY LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 9Actions & Practices of an Ally OBJECTIVES#3-Participants will be introduced to the five ways

of thinking that lead to the Danger Zone:① Experts Mind- Red Hat② Spotlight Thinking③ Dead Zone- White Hat④ Panic Zone- Black Hat⑤ Emotionality

A Dangerous Place“ The Expert’s Mind”When an individual or organization works from the

position of “expert” they are closed to ideas of possibility & opportunity.

A Dangerous Place“ The Expert’s Mind”When an individual or organization works from the

position of “expert” they believe they have all the answers and fail to engage in the search and discovery process.

The expert approach will frequently focus in on problems and fail to look at “POSSIBILITIES & OPPORTUNITIES.”

Dead Zone- White HatDead Zone:This is a place where an

organization has just given up or become overwhelmed.

• The culture looks & feels lifeless.

• Employees look beat down.

• There is no optimism.• There is no vision.

White Hat:• Indifferent• Whatever• Who cares• Just putting in time• Can’t wait till

retirement• Focus is on survival

Panic Zone- Black Hat

Black Hat:• Negative• Critical• Sarcastic• Pessimistic• Only sees failure• Focus is on the

problem

Panic Zone:• The “Panic Zone” is

when vision, reasoning, creativity, problem solving and possibility thinking all stop.

• When in the panic zone people freeze and everything around them seems to speed up.

• Fear is the primary thought and we act off of emotionality.

A Place that will lead to Danger “ The Comfort Zone”• This is the place where many organizations settle

after accreditation or compliance review.• The focus is meeting minimum standards.• Employees are happy just getting through the day

or week.• Frequent phrases heard in the comfort zone:*It is not worth the effort.*It is not that important.*It is not really a priority at this time.* This is a phase, it will pass.

Moving into the Danger Zone Spot Light Vision (Problem Focused)• In Spotlight Thinking the view is very narrow( horse blinders)• The range is short & limited• The vision is only on the here & now• The focus is on problems & not possibilities • Taking the approach as the “Expert” turns on the “Spotlight

Vision” where the focus in on problems and not possibilities• In times or uncertainity or when in the panic zone we turn on

our “Spotlight Vision” and miss the big picture or the opportunities ahead of us

• Spotlight Vision leads to perceptual or inattentional blindness• Following our old paradigm or historical approach is a good

example of “Spotlight Vision”

Another Dangerous Place“The Panic Zone”

When in the “Panic Zone” our vision becomes short sighted & narrow with a “Spotlight Focus”

Floodlight Vision in the Stretch Zone

EmotionalityEmotionality: Reacting to high levels of internal

emotional arousalEmotionality looks & feels like being overwhelmed

by feelings & emotions Emotionality is expressed as anger, sadness or

grief helplessness Actions during emotionality are unplanned,

impulsive, irrational & reactive.Rationality is extremely limited or nonexistent due

to fear disappointment ,frustration, failure

Stretching Outside Your Comfort Zone• YouTube Joe Urbanski