We Need More Clubhouses
A couple weeks ago, Netflix informed me that “Join or Die,” a documentary that inspired my transition to facilitation work, was leaving the platform on April 17. I encourage you to watch before then or find it in the near future.
To quote its director-narrator, “This is a film about why you should join a club, and why the fate of America depends on it.” It chronicles the storied career of Robert Putnam, of Bowling Alone fame. Both the highs and lows of that famous moniker.
With about 20 minutes left in the film, it shifts to the need for spaces for groups to gather. And here comes the quote that stuck with me: “If we want more clubs, we’re going to need more clubhouses.”
The filmmaker wasn’t asking you to join your parents’ or grandparents’ clubs. Nor to build literal clubhouses. But rather, to create gathering spaces where people can connect, share their differences, sit in that discomfort, and move forward.
How do you sit with discomfort? As a conflict-avoider, for years I felt leading discussions with no friction was a leadership skill. I can hear Cher singing in the back of my head, “If I could turn back time . . .” 😉 Now I know its value. I can hold that discomfort, be curious about its source, and navigate groups to dig deeper before moving on.
Where do we sit with discomfort? This is where metaphorical clubhouses come in. Your group, team, or task force may be used to your conference room or board room. You may even have spent a lot of money to create or remodel them! Yet are there other spaces you could host a discussion, perhaps networking with colleagues in different organizations, asking a group of constituents for feedback, or shaking up a regular team meeting?
What are the circumstances that would lead you to create a new, in-the-moment gathering space, or move off-site for a discussion? If you need to shift from comfortable discussions to more engaging ones, a new space might set the tone for that shift. Indy has some wonderful indoor spaces that host impromptu, casual, or formal gatherings and amazing outdoor spaces of all sizes.
Over the next few weeks, I'll explore and share some of those spaces. Know a good one? Drop me a note — I'd love to include it.
