Muddiness Matters

This metaphor was supplied by my colleague Kayla Lakusta for those times when group work gets a little unclear, or bumpy or challenging. Kayla gave me permission to run with it so here we go!

Maria Funes in “Laughing Matters” says, that “creative people are the ones who are okay hanging out in the fog!” (or the mud). My intention is to limit the metaphors but also to describe those situations that groups experience where the way is not clear, easy or comfortable. Some people are okay with this state, some are not.

Kids love the mud

They don’t see danger or dirtiness; they see an opportunity for fun.

Most adults learn to treat mud as dirty and something to be avoided. They often teach their kids to avoid, fear and mistrust mud. It is a healthy adult that can still see mud’s entertainment value.

Groups don’t like mud either - when things get messy or difficult or unpredictable. Many groups often start out with shared values, goals and meaningful connections. When things get unpredictable, unclear, or challenge the strength of the group, things get muddy. Groups don’t like mud either. Progress may stall.

This is a pivotal moment. Groups can either persist and grow, or stall, spin, and possibly dissolve.

What’s needed is patience in the muddiness, a return to what the group said they are and why they exist, and trust in their processes and original purpose.

Trust is the life jacket that gets us through the mud, fog, or waters of confusion (just to complicate the metaphors). It allows us to say, “we can get through this.” It leads to increased resourcefulness in difficult times. This is when groups start to shift from inaction to intention. This is worth its weight in gold.

Groups don’t get good at dealing with tough stuff unless they go through tough stuff. It is the truest indicator of a group that is truly growing. There is a tendency to get frustrated, angry or disillusioned with the group, but what carries a group through successfully is staying true to who they said they are.

Personal and collective resourcefulness emerges from listening, breathing, and clarifying the perspectives and feelings for yourself and others. Groups must remind themselves of the passion and beliefs that led to their creation, and the skills that they believe are essential to productive communication. They should ask themselves questions.

Questions such as:

“What is happening in this group right now?”

“What do we need to pay attention to right now?”

“Where are we stuck?”

“Why are we stuck?’

“What are the most productive or promising ways of moving forward?”

“What might we need to do differently?”

“What do we look and sound like when we are at our best?” 

This allows the group to take an honest look at itself and to start moving forward.

Assumptions should be replaced by clarity.

The resume of any group is incomplete without experience in “mud”. Groups that make their way through these times get stronger.

“Mud is an opportunity!”