The 5th social trigger is Equal Participation (and Skill Level). Nothing detracts more from group flow than people who aren’t pulling their weight. The opportunity to contribute equally is vital.
Thus everybody’s skill levels need to be on a par with each other whilst embracing the diversity of contribution. Naturally we are looking for flattened teams, hierarchy often detracts from equal participation and flow.
If you are looking for the key to equal participation then you may well benefit from analysing skills. To
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The 4th social trigger is Familiarity. As a group there needs to be enough in common to create a shared language, knowledge base and communication style. A group that can function sometimes on unspoken understandings.
Operating from the same play book, acting quickly without the need for lengthy explanations and detail. Trust rules. Allowing and accepting, knowing each other enough to get on with it.
Keep the social distance otherwise you won’t be able to see the wood for the trees. Close, yet far away. On the same
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It’s no surprise to find Good Communication as one of our social flow triggers. Communication – a catch all word that always needs further explanation. Conversations that move forwards find flow. Getting bogged down, stuck in the past or deluded by the future rarely leads to communication that flows.
Being clear when we send out our messages, as well as listening to receive. The communication needs to flow both ways. Building on what others have to offer, a narrative approach that encourages “Yes, and…”
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We talked about clear goals in relation to flow trigger #2, but here in the context of others we find Shared, Clear Goals. There is no doubt that groups need to be clear in order to be collective. Otherwise flow is blocked.
Having goals that are shared works on two levels. Firstly, we need to work towards a common goal – that which we share. Secondly, we all need to know who is working on what and why. Sharing each others goals.
Transparency
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Our first social trigger calls on us to consider Serious Concentration. Multi tasking as usual is out, instead we need awareness. What is happening right now, presence once more has power in the pursuit of flow. Being social we can now enter into group flow, when we are at our best. When we are all at our best.
Attention that leads to well formed intentions. In formed intentions. The here and now, unmoved by potential distractors. Flow follows focus.
Being serious about humour, and humorous
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Our third and final environmental flow trigger is Deep Embodiment. A depth that seeks excellence, resilience and perseverance. Short cutting the 10,000 hours of mastery rule by getting into flow. Diving deep we explore unchartered territory with flow as our fuel. We’ve got the flow factor.
So aligned to the task we can’t help but make our intentions visible, they have quality and evoke strong feelings. When we are in flow we deeply embody our values to good effect, representing what we stand for.
You
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Our second environmental flow trigger is Rich Environment. A rags to riches story calling upon the environment you create to possess novelty, unpredictability and complexity.
A sparkle that catches our eye, increasing our focus. Rather than the power of now, we shift to the power of next. If the environment is novel, what will happen next? The word maybe has a tremendous impact on flow.
If the environment is rich then the volume of information is high, another factor that kicks us into flow.
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Our first environmental trigger is High Consequences. When the stakes are high focus comes naturally and we know how to act. We can’t back out so instead we kick on hopefully with flow as our fuel.
What are the consequences to performing or underperforming? Set yourself a deadline, increase the pressure so that you can find flow more readily.
Share your intentions with those around you, that way accountability will increase. Elevate your game, aim higher and embrace the consequences that accompany optimal
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The 4th and final Psychological flow trigger is The Challenge/Skills Ratio. Flow can be found on the fine line between boredom and anxiety. If what we are doing is too mundane then our focus drops off. This prevents attention and action from taking the stage.
If the struggle is too great then we look to exit, how can we get out? Too much fear may prevent flow. Challenge squashing the skills. The action sports hero’s who are famed for finding flow still have
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Our 3rd Psychological flow trigger highlights the importance of Immediate Feedback in the pursuit of flow. Feedback helps us to focus and make additions to what we are already doing. Correct our form and build on what we have already done.
The clear goals that we have set, are they taking us in the right direction? How can we improve? How can we improve now, in real time. This keeps the mind focussed, rather than searching for cryptic clues that may lead to
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