What is it?
This is a method used to evaluate the forces and influences on a situation. It was derived from Psychologist Kurt Lewin's work in 1951. Understanding a situation requires considering these forces and influences.
Assist you in exploring the what might help and hinder you when wanting to make a change in behaviour or to a situation
Helps to reflect on Motivation, strengths and weaknesses
When to use it?
To look at the forces holding a problem in place, and those pushing fro change To identify blind spots, new perspectives and a place to start making changes. Test the feasibility of an action plan Identify forces to support your goal and those which oppose it
How to use it?
Write down your goal statement with a vertical line drawn beneath it.
On one side list some Helping forces: forces under your control, dependent on others (colleagues, friends, family) and forces within your organisation/wider context (events, policies, norms)
Draw arrows from the forces to the central line of your goal. Bold lines for strong forces and thinner lines for weaker ones.
On the other side repeat the exercise for hindering forces and use a red pen to draw the arrows.
Influence: Consider which forces can be increased / Decreased and how you might to this to increase the likelihood of success