Copy

Hello Everyone,

Readers of Patterns of Transformation have been sending in questions, which I’m answering as they arrive. From time to time, I’ll share the questions and my answers here on the broader list.
 

This question came in about social risk:

In my experience, designing events for individuals vs. couples vs. groups involves a fair amount of risk regarding the social dynamics of these pods. I don't know if you address this later in the material, but a designer might find a breakdown in their structures if certain group dynamics aren't addressed. Perhaps if the designer has done their work regarding preparation, magic circle, etc., this may not be an issue but this type of social risk is considerable and ought to be addressed.


Here’s my answer:

You bring up a great point. Here, I imagine you are seeing the social risk as a risk posed to you as the designer. If participants arrive in the wrong social ‘pod’, they might not engage or could even outright disrupt the experience you’ve designed for them. 

How and why participants arrive is indeed the work of the magic circle. If participants need to arrive in a certain condition, which includes their social formation (alone, as a couple, in small groups, etc) to access the worthwhile risk of the experience, then make sure the magic circle attracts people for the right reason and puts them in the right condition. Specify it in the invite, either explicitly or indirectly. Be graciously strict about whether people can participate if they haven’t followed instructions. You could also reorganize guests when they arrive, either by pairing them up or breaking groups apart. 

If participants are still entering the magic circle of the experience, you can give them the option to turn around and opt out if they don’t like the expectations. Better that than have them miss the value of the experience while in it or ruin the experience for other. I sometimes like to think of this as “friction to entry”. Experiences with higher friction to entry can also have higher buy-in by the participants who do opt in, which can translate to deeper engagement once they are inside the magic circle.

Remember to think of risk as what is at the heart of the experience, what makes it worthwhile to engage with in the first place. Social risk isn't about crowd control. It's about the participants risking rejection or shame in order to connect with other people in ways that they can't do without the help of the experience you have designed. 

 


 

If you have questions about Patterns of Transformation, write me an email or send a note through the forms on the site. And if you’ve put any of the design tips into action, I’d love to hear how it went!

 

Best,
Ida


 

You've signed up for updates.
update your preferences | unsubscribe from this list

Our mailing address is:
Patterns of Transformation
135 Plymouth St.
Brooklyn, New York 11201

Add us to your address book


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp