WTF is a Social Field?

Imagine a social field as an invisible playground where all our interactions and relationships with people, groups, and organizations form a complex web.

It's like the setting for all the social stuff that happens, shaping how we act together and what comes out of our actions. Even though it might not seem like it, every single one of us is constantly adding to and changing this playground with our behaviour and attitudes. Anywhere, where more than one sentient being shows up, we tend to form a social field. As such our families, schools, colleges, offices, communities and countries are all social fields.

Here's a very cool video of Mette Miriam Rakel Böll introducing us to Social Fields - https://systemsawareness.org/document/mette-boell-introduces-generative-social-fields/

You are a Social Influencer!

Here's the cool part: the way we "show up" or behave in everyday life really matters. It's like throwing a pebble into a pond—the ripples can spread out and affect more than just the spot where it landed. By being intentional, we can start to make waves in this social playground that lead to positive changes and help fix bigger problems together, slowly but surely.

Our actions and how we see the world are powerful tools for shaping everything around us, often in ways we don't even realize. Each of us has a lot more power and influence than we think.

The connection between You and Mwe

Now, let's talk about how all of this connects. When we understand that we're all linked together, it changes how we see things. For instance, Dr Dan Siegel, a smart guy who studies brains and relationships, says that we're all like nodes in a network. Think of it like being part of a big web where everything and everyone is connected. He even made up a new word, "mwe," which blends "me" and "we" to show how we're individuals but also part of something bigger at the same time.

Understanding this interconnectedness also means we need to think differently about how we look at things, especially in places like schools and offices. Instead of just focusing on what we can easily measure, we should also pay attention to how people feel being part of a group because those feelings tell us a lot about the health and happiness of the group.

Some wise people, like Edgar Schein, tell us that the best way to understand a big system, like a school or community, is to try and change it. This is a two-way street: as we try to make a difference, we also learn more about ourselves.

Read more here and here.

Generative vs Degenerative Social Fields

Now that we understand what a social field is and how we can influence the social fields we are in, let's delve into: a. generative vs. degenerative fields; b. the characteristics of a generative field; c. real-world examples of generative fields; and d. the relationship between fields and systems.

a. Generative vs. Degenerative Social Fields

Imagine generative social fields as lush, thriving gardens where everything flourishes because the soil is nutrient-rich, sunlight is abundant, and all plants receive careful attention. These are spaces where individuals feel uplifted, support one another, and collectively brainstorm innovative ideas.

Conversely, degenerative social fields resemble neglected gardens where plants wither, the soil is depleted, and an overall sense of despair prevails. Here, individuals may feel disheartened, frequent disagreements arise, and creativity is stifled.

b. What Makes a Generative Field Special

In a generative field, you'll find:

• People rooting for each other.

• Room for creativity and dialogue.

• Resilience in facing and overcoming challenges collectively.

c. Examples of a Generative Field in Real Life

Last August, I traveled to the Suru Valley near Kargil for India's largest outdoor sports festival, Surufest. Before going to Suru, I had been to a climbing gym a couple of times but had never climbed unharnessed or outdoors. On the first day, I doubted my ability to even stay on the rock, let alone reach the top. However, what blew my mind was how a bunch of really cool strangers kept cheering me on, providing encouragement - giving 'beta'; and guiding my path - giving 'stoke' (e.g., 'You've got strong hands, Naina, keep going!' and 'Put your left hand at 2 o'clock and your left toe by your right knee...'), and waiting with crash pads to cushion my fall. I topped out on the first rock on my first attempt, and then three more. I didn't do it alone. The force of the field took me all the way up, every single time.

I also learned that each wall and route is essentially a problem to solve, and there is more than one way to address a problem—each one of us is uniquely equipped to tackle the same problem differently based on our strengths. Furthermore, I realised it's possible to learn to forge your own path by observing and cheering for others, and that learning—especially when you're afraid—is only truly possible in an environment where people are rooting for your success.

This is not different from my experiences of learning at Zomato or Blinkit. When I look back at my time in both these organisations it blows my mind to think of the rock faces I scaled, we scaled - always unharnessed, never alone. Always knowing someone was there to catch my fall, or waiting around with a catch pad and torch light while someone else scaled the wall. Always aware that every wall I hit, we hit, is a just another problem to solve. Sure some problems take more skin than the others. Some problems take more time than the others. They are just problems none the less.

For me these experiences underscore another critical aspect of generative fields: they are fertile grounds for learning and personal growth. I learned not just about climbing techniques or skills at work, but also about the power of community and the importance of a supportive environment for overcoming fears and achieving goals. Generative Social fields are force multipliers.

d. The relationship between fields and systems.

Social fields and Systems are tightly linked. Think of social fields as the way people interact within a system, like a school or a company. If the interactions are positive (generative), it can make the whole system better, like creating rules that everyone agrees are fair. If the interactions are negative (degenerative), it can make problems worse, like rules that only make people unhappy.

My fondest memories of walking into the offices at Zomato and Blinkit are the number of hugs I always got on the way from the door to the desk. In fact, one of my greater motivations to travel the world over this last year and host pro-bono workshops on systems thinking has been to extend the privilege that I've had of learning and growing in generative social fields and learning organisations to as many others as possible.

My current understanding is that by focusing on making our interactions with others more positive, we can start to change the bigger picture, making places like our schools, workplaces, and communities better for everyone.

What do you think?

Practice

Think of a time where you have experienced a generative social field. Think of a space you came into that you felt safe or seen.

Quote

Be the change that you wish to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi