Cohousing-L Mailing List: Troubleshooters

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

We created a role in the community for person to help members who were
having difficulty with the process or with another member of the group. Some
members were dissatisfied because they were having difficulty feeling heard
or the conflict between two (or more) people was more than they or the group
could handle.

A member who is skilled in family therapy and is also on the board took on
the role and we cast about for a name.  The one that stuck was
"troubleshooter." 

"Troubleshooter" is a term used to describe a certain kind of detective
fiction character who essentially does odd jobs involving people. While some
include assassination in their repertoire, most are hired to find out what
is really going on with so-and-so and to do something about it.

In stories, they end up in the middle of a murder but our thought was that
this person could help prevent murders by intercepting the slow simmer and
misunderstandings that precede murders. Basically, to intercept the story
before it becomes big enough for publication.

This has worked very well. Sometimes she calls people to clarify what
happened and to clear up misunderstandings. Sometimes she meets with two
people who are in a dispute or upset with each other (like over an email
message) and serves as an interpreter, reality check, calming influence,
etc. Sometimes she tracks down the origin of a rumor. She only does this at
the request of a member who is concerned or of the board when they have
become aware of a rumbling that might signal an earthquake.

Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org


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