In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, finding clarity is often a distant luxury. Yet, as Julian Barnes astutely noted, “Mystification is simple, clarity is the hardest thing of all.” How many times have you walked away from an interaction feeling unsettled, unable to pinpoint exactly what didn’t feel right? It’s a common experience, one that leaves us grappling with uncertainty and anxiety. To help navigate these murky waters of confusion and find clarity, try the Experience Cube.
What is an Experience Cube?
I was introduced to the Experience Cube in 2010 at a five day leadership intensive program designed around Gervase R. Bushe’s groundbreaking work on Clear Leadership where he introduces a structured approach to understanding our experiences.
There are 4 elements to the Experience Cube
Observations
What do you see and hear in your environment?Take note of your observations, the tangible aspects of the situation. Ask yourself what are you noticing, seeing, hearing, etc.
Thoughts
Consider your beliefs and the stories you might be telling yourself about the observations you have made. These narratives shape how you interpret the world around you.
Emotions
Explore the feelings that come when you reflect on your thoughts. Emotions can colour our perceptions and influence our reactions to the situation.
Wants
Based on your observations, thoughts, and emotions, consider what you desire or what you want to have happen.
Putting the Cube into practice
I used the cube to clarify my thinking in my early days of working with an Associate Dean. We were both tasked with leading a major change for our respective units, which was highly contentious. We had decided to meet in my office. When the Associate Dean showed up to my office, I could see that he was agitated. I tried to keep the conversation focused on our agenda and not get distracted. We had a limited time for the conversation.
Because of the agitation, it became a not very productive meeting and it was clear we were going to need to meet again. Feeling annoyed and frustrated, I started to ruminate and think negative thoughts about my colleague and started to make up a story that he didn’t care.
I then remembered the cube and walked myself through the elements.
- What was I observing?: I observed that my colleague had made little eye contact and spoke only in short sentences.
- What did this make me think?: I thought that he didn’t care to work on this change process.
- What did it make me feel?: I felt frustrated and alone in trying to problem solve the change process.
- What did I want?: I really needed his engagement and help to manage this process and I needed us to work as a team.
Walking myself through the experience cube elements, helped me get clear what I needed and how I might engage with my colleague the next time we met.
To sum things up…
Next time you might find yourself in moments of confusion or discontent, the Experience Cube can serve as a beacon of clarity. By examining our experiences in observable facts, internal narratives, emotional responses, and desired outcomes, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our circumstances. In summary, if you find yourself adrift in a sea of uncertainty, harness the power of the Experience Cube to illuminate your path forward. Clarity awaits through this reflective process.
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