This guy is in pain. I’ve seen this drawing from many people in many industries.  The tug of priorities feel like they are tearing you apart.  What I like about this guy’s drawing is the expressions on the faces of the people who need his attention.  A nice person, a mad/mean person, a sad person, a clueless person, and the two handed power tug of a scared person.  All priorities are not equal and yet the sense of urgency of the “tugger” is unrelated to the importance of the priority.  This picture also gives the drawer a chance to see that he/she draws him/herself as a victim with no power.  The question arises – Is that really true?

Drawing a picture of “what it’s like at work” gives people an opportunity to express negative emotions with humor.  When I facilitate this kind of exercise, everyone shares their “metaphor map” in a democratic process.  Some are positive but many people need to process stress, anxiety and frustration.  It is humor that makes this work.  When we can laugh at ourselves and each other, we find that negative perceptions ARE surmountable if we can talk about them.  Emotions that cannot be discussed cannot be healed.  This map was drawn by a guy who was new to a senior management position at a “troubled” facility of a national organization.  He explained, “This is what remains of me.  This job has ripped out my heart and guts.  The people here are chewing away my legs and feet.  I hold up my arm for help and the guys above me snap it off.”  This drawing was not so much a message to the group – although it made a strong impact – but it was a catharsis for the man who drew it.  Many people say the Metaphor Map process is cathartic.  He got lots of attention, genuine laughter at this graphics, and validation.  My guess is that this picture caused him to ask himself, “Am I really going to let this happen to me?”  After the catharsis of admitting he hit bottom and the validation that everyone could relate to the feeling, there was no where to go but up.

I facilitated dialogue between conservative and gay Christians in the same denomination off and on for two years.  It got ugly at times.  Getting people to come is the hardest part.  (same problem with racial issues) This group was truly inclusive and most of the people there were experts on Bible scripture, citing Chapter and verse to support their points.  Previously intellectual sparring kept the group from learning about the other’s personal faith journeys – their stories.  It is impossible to demonize someone once you know their story.  The man who drew this map was from the conservative side and yet he spoke for everyone.  Even if they all could quote scripture, and acted as if they knew what God said, the Circle above representing God gets to the truth of the matter.  “I don’t remember talking to either one of them lately.”  Everyone needs to get off their soapbox in order to achieve collaboration and understanding.

The woman who drew this was trim, coiffed and perfectly dressed.  Her blond flip hair-do and “had-to-have-been-a-cheerleader” demeanor did not make ANY sense when she present this map to the group.  She said, “This is me. And I do everything I can to protect my people from all the problems and interference that come down from HQ and senior leadership.  And I’ve got plenty of tools for my people, but they don’t seem to step up to the job.  They are always asking me what to do.  I don’t understand.” People looked left and right, thinking, “you don’t understand?”  She didn’t.  I asked, “Would you be interested in hearing what some of the other characters in your drawing might say?”….I pointed to the chick bottom left, “Can anyone say how they’d feel if they were this character?”  I got several answers, that told the same story, “I can’t do anything because she’s always hovering over me.  So why try.”  She turned in shock. Another said, “She’s standing on the tool box so I have to go through her for everything.”  I pointed out.  “To me, this eagle character looks kind of mean.  I don’t see you that way.”  Every now and then a drawing really packs a punch.  This one had a radical impact on the manager who drew it.  Her positive intent was very strong: to protect and help.  When she saw how much damage her current strategy was doing, her attitude changed – no defensiveness, no bad feelings, just a new opportunity to do it better.