Why Christmas carolling is more complex than you think.
Zoe Fitzgerald is the co-founder of Alkimia Learning.
This is me Christmas Caroling with the Glee Christmas Choir at the Melbourne Zoo.
You can’t really see me, but I’m there!
I’ve circled it in red if that helps.
This was the first time I’d ever taken part in carolling and it was quite a wonderful experience.
I met new people; quite a number of whom were returning singers and together we spread some holiday cheer through song!
However, as a learning designer, what I found most fascinating was how the choir (a living organism in its own way) was able to bring together and coordinate so many different people from all walks of life.
Sure we all had a common interest in singing, but beyond that there were competing calendars, busy agendas and crazy festive schedules.
Thinking about the logistics was overwhelming…
But at the forefront of all this, conducting the music and managing our process, was Vicki Jacobs.
How she helped us navigate the commitment of being in the choir while facilitating the “glee magic” (as she so lovingly called it) reminded me of Chris Corrigan’s theory on “Hosting in Complexity.”
What does hosting in complexity mean?
Grounded in good complexity theory - “hosting in complexity” refers to how we (leaders / facilitators / managers) can avoid defaulting to control in order to drive any given process towards a comfortable outcome.
Chris Corrigan outlines that too much control within complex contexts can often result in a “process becoming so constrained that there is no possibility for the magic of emergence or self-organization to happen.”
The magic of emergence in this case being once again, “glee magic.”
But what makes a system complex?
Complex systems have three key, distinguishing characteristics:
There is no obvious solution
The way forward is not clear
There are many different options
“Hosting in complexity” therefore refers to the skill of holding space where one might not know what the outcome is going to be. But it also means playing with the constraints that may exist within the system and creating or adjusting processes to achieve emergence.
Why constraints in carolling help!
So how did Choir Master Vicki expertly navigate the complexity of Christmas carolling?
She didn’t know all our schedules intimately.
She didn’t even know if all of us could sing!
But Vicki understood how to use constraints to achieve emergence!
First, she was clear on the constraints (let’s call them tight constraints). Secondly, she was also flexible in navigating them (let’s call these loose constraints).
Her tight constraints were focused on bringing the group together, rallying us towards a common goal. By joining the choir, you were committing to attending at least two rehearsal sessions and performing at least once. This was further encouraged by access to a predetermined set list - with sheet music and recordings in case you weren’t familiar with any of the songs.
In turn, her loose constraints were an acknowledgement of the diversity that existed within the group. Multiple dates and times were offered for rehearsal sessions. This flexibility was further extended to our performances; with a wide range of dates and locations on offer.
There was no uniform required to be a part of the choir; just festive colours to celebrate the season. Singers were also allowed to decide which parts of the song they wanted to sing - the harmony for some, the melody for others.
The takeaway
As a learning designer and workshop facilitator, I often find myself working with groups made up of individuals that have competing interests, ideas and experiences.
With good complexity theory, harnessing the power of constraints has helped me navigate those contexts on numerous occasions. That is, identifying the things I want to have as tight constraints and which ones I want to hold loosely.
Striking a balance will allow for that magic of emergence to take place.
In the case of the Glee Christmas Choir, there could have been an attempt to really control who showed up where and when, what we wore, and who sang what parts. However, Vicki allowed us all to be individuals while facilitating a special outcome as a group.
So next Christmas when you hear festive carolling in the streets, remember, all is not as easy as it appears to be!
Interested in learning more about hosting and facilitating in complexity?