Roberts & Kay, Inc. -- Human Spectrums

Human Spectrums

Human Spectrums are a means for promoting the understanding and connections necessary for effective group work. They involve arranging people on a line between two equally positive ends or "poles" according to individual or work-related preferences that affect team and work group performance. For example, spectrums can help groups see which of their members consider themselves to be starters and which consider themselves finishers, or who is a detail-oriented person compared with who is a big-picture person. Once people have identified their appropriate places on the spectrum, group members talk about how the spectrum applies to their work.

RKI uses Human Spectrums to accelerate new groups through the early forming stages and to help established groups sort out interests, views, and positions. We have introduced Human Spectrums to a variety of different work groups on all kinds of occasions. As one recent example, Steve used Human Spectrums in an orientation session for The Partnership Cadre for School and Community Development, a newly formed group of highly-skilled community development professionals and educators who will serve as resources and advisors for school-community groups throughout Kentucky. Spectrums provided these group members with the opportunity to begin understanding each other's work preferences, such as whether they preferred to work alone or in a group. Steve also conducted spectrums recently during a retreat for the executive council of the Kentucky Speech and Hearing Association.

In January, 1999 RKI had the opportunity to introduce this wonderful tool to facilitators from all over the world when Steve and Rona led a full-day pre-conference workshop on Human Spectrums at the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) annual conference.

For more information about Human Spectrums, read an article that Steve developed for the IAF conference. You can also check out the Fall, 1998 issue of Best Practices, the RKI newsletter, which was devoted to the topic of Human Spectrums.

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