1--The present situation is what we accept and where we start.
2--We work the present situation (or the problem), go inside it.
3--And work outwards to performances and solutions that move our present situation to our desired (envisioned) outcome
Inside Out is a method that can be applied to education, management and any other kind of problem solving that requires creative solutions and solutions that are relevant and based upon the truth of the situation.
It is a way to take the situation as it is-- facing up to it in all its difficulty and desire to deny, avoid or work around. There is usually some kind of worse case scenario that is outside the person's awareness that has to be revealed to face up to the reality of the situation. Once it is revealed and worked with, the person can work out from this inside into addressing and solving the problem.
Accepting this situation doesn't happen in one session. It takes time for someone to realize, absorb, and reconcile to. As this acceptance takes place, strategies can be developed to improve the present situation or solve the problem. The problem that is clearly revealed and understood is the Inside that had been avoided or denied. Reclaiming it and working outward to the selected strategy or goal provides real solutions and success.
Examples:
#1 An elderly man goes to an adult school that provides computer classes. He says he bought a computer only to write email to his grand kids who are in college overseas. Otherwise, he doesn't touch it or have any interest in it. The computer class coordinator says, great, we can help you. She puts him in an Introduction to Computer Class where he learns about turning the computer on/off, the mouse, finding the desk top, clicking on his email service, composing an email etc. After a few weeks of the class, he drops out. He is frustrated and embarrassed. He considers calling his grandkids on the telephone.
The Inside Out approach would be to get the man on the computer screen where his email is all set up so he can immediately type a letter to one of his grand kids. He is shown and learns how to put in their address, a subject, a message and to click Send, then see the confirmation notice that his email was sent.
With this accomplishment and satisfaction, he is very likely less afraid of using the mouse or keyboard, and more likely to ask questions about turning the computer on in the first place, and want to write an email to his second grand kid. He is working inside right where his present situation is (sending emails to his grand kids) and working out from there.
#2 An employee in good standing approaches his boss. He would like to be considered for further promotion. The boss has to reluctantly and gently and carefully tell him that any further promotion is not possible. He tells the employee that he does not have the written and communication skills to be promoted. And he has to learn how to work with people better. There is much trust and respect between this employee and boss. The employee listens and can understand the situation. He had taken a course to improve himself and failed the written test twice. The boss goes further to say that he will have trouble working elsewhere until he addresses and overcomes these difficulties.
The truth of the situation is that he does not have the skills to be promoted not just here but probably anywhere. We are in the employee's situation. The employee cannot do anything to make things better until he accepts the truth of his situation. He came in hoping to be promoted and now has to deal with the reality that he is not promotable here or probably anywhere. He is Inside his situation. As he can accept it he can begin working out from it.
The boss goes further to say that while he is here, he (boss) will help him with learning and improvement. He offers him free computer classes at the nearby adult school and paid time to take them. Also, he points to a business writing skills class for his level that he can take next spring.
The boss is helping the employee work out from his situation. In the problem, the employee is not promotable. Working out from the reality of that situation, he has concrete things he can do to become promotable.
#3 A business owner is getting feedback from his employees that his assistant, Bob, is not doing his job. He has known this to be a problem. Yet the assistant is very good in so many other ways that the owner has set it aside. Bob has been with him a long time; he is competent in other ways, and has been very loyal. In fact, the owner foresees and has discussed with Bob, taking over the business.
Based on employee feedback the owner now has to face the that his revered assistant has severe limitations that are critical to company success now and in the future. He is accepting that Bob must improve or be let go. Accepting this situation doesn't happen at once. It takes time to realize, absorb, and reconcile to. Once done though, then the business owner can work out from the in. He can and did begin designing a two year plan to help Bob improve yet be prepared to fire him if he doesn't. Our owner had to change his attitude toward Bob, see him more clearly, have heightened expectations of him and not forgive or rationalize his responses.
Darrell Potts, October 2005
Performance Solutions
Business and Professional Development
Strategic Thinking
Inside Out Strategic Planning
Perspective
Benefiting From Disagreement
Getting Opportunity Responses
Interactional Environment