The Emulsifier

(see sympoiesis, catalysis and other glossary entries)

It's almost impossible to keep oil and water mixed together without an emulsifier to bind them (see emulsion)
In team situations managers may be faced with enmities between colleagues.
Sometimes, a third person may enable quarrelsome parties to work together more effectively.

'Opposite' cognitive types/roles (e.g. creatives and organisers) may be antagonistic to one another.
It is important to welcome and value the differences in these individuals, rather than seeing it as a human problem.
- Each type of thinking may be useful - at some point - to the organisation.
- The boundary between the two may hide unseen opportunities.

1. Select an intermediary facilitator (or 'emulsifier').
- Ideally, s/he must get on better with each of the two colleagues than each gets on with one another.
- Ideally, s/he must be capable of understanding and respecting the challenges and values inherent in their roles.
- Ideally, s/he must be an excellent languager.
2. Seat the three in an equilateral triangle
- This should be as small as possible
- However, it should not be so small that the proximity of partners might inflame the situation.
3. Brief the Emulsifier to listen attentively to each, and to make notes about the virtues of their respective standpoints.
4. Ensure that the Emulsifier registers any possible lessons/latent benefits from across all three relations i.e. :
- A) Creative to Organiser
- B) Creative to Emulsifier
- C) Organiser to Emulsifier