An Illustration of Modes
Since this is called the “Illustrated Philosophy of the Everyday” I thought maybe some illustrations were in order. The practice is based in something we called modes. There are different modes for different parts of the process to be used at different times. They are not necessarily used in strict sequence though there is a general flow.
What is a mode?
A mode is a way of being in the moment while you relate to your project/process/creation. When we are embodying a mode we use a particular stance with chosen practices and tactics that help us to move the process forward.
A mode has a name. We use a “bubble” image (often used for “process”) to represent a mode. A mode ususal requires something: information, data, reports, vision, etc. A mode often produces something: a new perspective, an idea, more information or structure, or sometmes a product.
Here are a few definitions that contribute to our understanding of the term mode:
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A way or manner in which something occurs or is experienced, expressed, or done
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In physics: any of the distinct kinds or patterns of vibration of an oscillating system
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Music a set of musical notes forming a scale and from which melodies and harmonies are constructed
One can experience modes in a very practical way (things to do, our practices and tactics) and one can (and hopefully will) experience them as differnt ways of paying attention, different levels of awareness. In that sense, they are different “patterns of vibration” in our awareness; similar to different “keys” in a musical modal structure.
Let’s look at one of the more “physical” modes: Embody.
For the Embody mode, we need to know something about what we are trying to do—our target. We will also know something about the the state of our creative environment (our team, our capabilities, our market, etc.). Then we “embody” what it takes to create our target. We may use several different “practices” or ‘tactics”. (Practices are process we engage like planning cycles or training programs; tactics are ways we respond to things that happen. We’ll go into these ideas more later on.)
Some things we may need to do as part of the Embody phase:
- Build the right skills
- Hire the right people
- Buy tools
- Train the team
- Acquire facilities
- Put processes in place
And it doesn’t matter if it is for an individual to prepare to paint a picture or a company to build a new product. The specific processes and tactics will different, but the intent is the same.
The Embody mode is one of the most famiiliar to us. We all know that we need to get our “things” together, though as usual, there are many things that we habitually do wrong in this mode. But that discussion is for another time.
