Peter Vaill similarly recounts a scene from the movie Lawrence of Arabia in which Lawrence tells a British Colonel that his job at the Arab camp was to “appreciate the situation.” (Vaill, 1990, p. 323) By appreciating the situation, Lawrence assessed and helped add credibility to the Arab cause, much as a knowledgeable jeweler or art appraiser can increase the value of a diamond or painting through nothing more than thoughtful appraisal. Lawrence’s appreciation of the Arab situation, in turn, helped to produce a new level of courage and ambition on the part of the Arab communities with which Lawrence was associated.
At any point when we fully appreciate the perspective offered by someone with whom we are working, then we have raised the value to be assigned to this perspective. We may be seeing this perspective in ways that neither our colleague nor his associates in the organization have seen, thus opening new vistas for our colleague. We can similarly benefit from the appreciation offered for our own ideas by people with whom we work (or from a talented coach or consultant). These perspectives and practices will not only increase in value for us–they will also be enriched and may assist us in building more ambitious (yet realistic) baselines for our polystatic processes.
Divergence: What else is important that deserves our attention?
A third function is served by a lens and its accompanying mirrors. A kaleidoscope is created when two or more reflecting mirrors are placed at an angle in a cylinder with a lens through which we view an array of images. This optical device yields many different perspectives in viewing small pieces of glass, stones or other items. These random objects are seemingly in disarray. Yet, they yield a stunning pattern of beauty when seen through the kaleidoscope lens. The beauty is to be found not just in the diversity of objects viewed but also in the way these objects are connected to one another via the mirrors. They form ever-changing displays as we rotate the kaleidoscope tube or attached wheel. The lens, in this case, is expanding our breadth of vision. We see something more than was readily apparent when viewing the assembled objects in the kaleidoscope’s tube.
A lens can similarly expand the domain of that which is Essential in our work and life. Our polystatic predictions can become broader in scope and more systemic. We can become more flexible in our assignment of baselines to the polystatic process. Historically, we see this expansion in a document such as the U.S. Declaration of Independence. This document declares that a government should expand its purpose from serving as a source of security regarding the life of its citizens. This expansive declaration ensures that citizens of the soon-to-be-established United State are free (liberty) to live their distinctive life in the pursuit of happiness.
