Force Field Analysis – It's Not Star Wars It's Real!

It sounds like something out of Star Wars, but I assure you it is real and just as powerful in your workplace.

What is Force Field Analysis?

Force Field Analysis is a useful technique for looking at all the forces for and against a particular course of action. It balances free thinking (brainstorming all the possible driving and restraining forces), and logical thinking (working through each in a processed, disciplined way to establish which are the biggest forces and how, therefore, to deal with them), so it appeals to all sides. In effect, it is a specialized method of weighing pros and cons. This is a very simplified version of the tool, which is great for looking at all the things you can do to maximize the stuff that fires you up, and minimize the stuff that burns you out!

Your Task This Week

Identify a situation in which you’d like to feel more Fired Up. A process; a task; a relationship; a meeting.

1. Use one sentence to describe the current situation, one sentence to describe what the ideal scenario would look like, and one sentence to describe the worst case scenario (i.e. what would happen if this situation wasn’t addressed and was allowed to get worse)

2. Brainstorm all the driving and restraining forces. Driving Forces are things (people; situations; elements; actions) which push us FOWARDS towards our ideal scenario and Restraining Forces are things which push us BACKWARDS, nearer our worst case scenario

3. Identify the top 2 or 3 forces on each side which you believe have the biggest “weight”

4. Brainstorm and then refine the specific actions you could take to MAXIMISE the Driving Forces and MINIMISE the Restraining Forces

5. Choose 3 actions you’re absolutely committed to do - and action them!

Enjoy the difference it makes!