Manifestos/Principles

Tensions

Tensions exist between speed and quality, innovation and reliability, user needs and business goals. This exercise surfaces those competing values. It helps teams explore productive ways to hold seemingly opposite ideas in balance. This 2-hour exercise works best when principles feel one-sided. It also helps when teams experience conflicts between values. The goal? Teams realize tension is a feature, not a bug. Be warned: This requires maturity to hold paradox without forcing resolution. Expect an uncomfortable exploration of contradictions. Success looks like teams articulating 'and' instead of 'or.'

Duration
2 hours
Group Size
10-15
Category
Manifestos/Principles
Difficulty
Easy
Energy
Medium

Objectives

Identify 5-8 key tensions in your work. Explore each tension, understanding both sides. Articulate principle pairs that hold both sides in productive tension. Create decision frameworks for navigating these tensions.

Outcomes

You will achieve: Identified tensions and tradeoffs. Explicit discussion of competing priorities. Balanced decisions acknowledging tradeoffs.

Step-by-Step Instructions


  1. Tension Identification (20 min): Brainstorm competing values teams experience.

  2. Tension Selection (10 min): Select 5-8 most critical tensions.

  3. Deep Dive (50 min): For each tension, explore both sides and why each matters.

  4. Principle Pairing (30 min): Create principle pairs that honor both sides.

  5. Framework Creation (10 min): Determine how to navigate tensions in practice.

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Facilitator Tips

Before the workshop, pre-identify known tensions. During the session, prevent premature resolution - hold the paradox. Afterward, use these tensions to guide complex decisions.

Pre-Work

For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

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Materials Required


  • Large paper for tension mapping

  • Sticky notes

  • Markers

  • Decision scenario cards

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Resources & Templates

  • Facilitator Guide (PDF)
  • Participant Workbook Template
  • Presentation Slides
  • Printable Materials

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