What are Square Wheels?

Square Wheels is our series of illustrations designed as facilitation and engagement tools for an interactive discussion around:

• Ideas and issues about how things really work
• Ways to improve the status quo
• Change and organizational development issues
• Motivation and innovation
• Performance improvement

The illustrations/cartoons are packaged in Toolkits containing PowerPoint slides, pdf-based handouts and all the materials, instructions and ideas needed to successfully facilitate communications and involve people in moving forward.

Square Wheels illustrations work as a "Rorschach inkblot test" because they allow a person to project his/her thoughts for what could be done, differently and more positively, within their organization. Certainly, one doesn't need to be a psychologist to use these, just an interested manager or leader who wants to engage employees and create ownership in improvements. 

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We present this to people with the question,

"How might this illustration represent how things really work in most organizations?"

. .

We then allow participants to consider possibilities and make some assumptions. Most interesting is that we have collected more than 300 different thoughts and beliefs about the cartoon! Some people focus on mechanics, some on the interaction of the people, some on the irony that they are carrying the solutions and many on the simple fact that they are working harder and inefficiently.

A Leader is pulling a rope in front and the team is pushing from the back. The wagon body can represent the organization, the Square Wheels are the things that work, but not always smoothly, and the Round Wheels - already inside the wagon - represent the ideas that could make the wagon or organization operate more smoothly. But communication is difficult and visions are critical!

This Square Wheels One illustration introduces people to the idea of using a cartoon to represent the organization and its processes. This first illustration generates lots of discussion and ideas without causing defensiveness to occur. After all, it's only a cartoon! Other illustrations in the series are then used to lead the group on a journey of creativity, quality, teamwork and communications with a goal of generating active involvement and participation.

With humor and creativity, these tools create an environment for "stepping back from the wagon and gaining new perspective," which helps minimize resistance to change, making improvements more likely.

The approach was developed over the past 13 years and is practical for non-trainers. These great OD tools are used by consultants, trainers and managers in all kinds of organizations including Fortune 500 corporations, large and small businesses, industries, state, city and federal agencies, schools and universities and anything in between -- worldwide!

These illustrations are available for purchase in a number of frameworks, including powerpoint presentations and bundles of materials focused on different topics. There are even two team building games that combine perfectly with the illustrations to make teaching more powerful. In each of these, we clearly explain how the illustrations they contain can be delivered and provide ideas for implementation. Explicit examples are given to present and discuss each illustration and concept. There are corresponding handout pages you reproduce as needed from pdf files.

The tools are easy to use:

read out thoughts and general ideas (no sense re-inventing the wheel, right?)
plan your presentation, using the ideas given or your own, modifying the powerpoint files as you desire
make handouts from the pdf files
enjoy facilitating an interactive, creative, humorous, impactful and memorable session!

People will walk away from your presentation with ideas, energy and ownership!

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