Prison Program Learnings - Part 2

I learnt a lot from running a 16 week personal development program with a group of men in the prison community. Regardless of your field, I hope you can find some nuggets to unlock potential in your circles. Part 2: 🎭 Lightness 🏹 Values

"Laughter seemed like coming up for air"

Lightness: One morning, the lads bound through the door in rare form. Timmy had the rest in hysterics, recalling being caught in a downpour in the yard that morning. The energy was electric. My inner dialogue was saying, ‘this is eating into precious time’, ‘what if we don’t get xyz covered?’

Looking at their faces, I pictured a typical day ‘inside’ - rules, routine, structure, captivity, isolation. Laughter felt like coming up for air. A momentary taste of freedom. Yes, it was eating into the allotted time, but was it worth shutting this moment down? After taking a breath myself, I decided to loosen my grip and let it flow. When enough 'craic' was squeezed from the story, we circled back to the xyz’s - with a notable zest.

Lesson for Teams

Forced fun can be…unadvisable (see David Brent from The Office). Instead, in the right context, lightness can be welcomed as it arises. The group's jesters can be allowed space to lift spirits. The value of ‘relaxed social laughter’ is as follows:

1. Laughter signals that a group is in a non-anxious, relaxed, safe state. Lowered protective guards heighten the likelihood of innovation and collaboration.
2. The physical act of laughter releases endorphins, which buffer the effects of physiological and psychological stress.
3. Laughter is like ‘grooming from a distance’, says evolutionary psychologist Dr. Robin Dunbar. Giggles and belly laughs are both moments that tighten social bonds.

*On lightness - one day I told the lads how much I enjoyed working in the prison. Gareth turned and said, “cheers Ro. If you like it here so much, I’m sure we could find a spare bed for you then ya?” Touchè.

“Can I give you a hug bud?”

Values: “I’m one year off the drugs today lads”, Olly announced. The room erupted with applause. “Fair play to you man, deadly.” “Can I give you a hug bud?", a chuffed friend asked. Taken aback, I asked, “is this a normal exchange in prison?” One man responded, “ha! If you did this on the landing 100 metres away, you’d be destroyed! Trust me.”

Why would one group celebrate certain behaviours and others punish them? For me, it’s values - the shared beliefs a group lives by. This group believed that praise and even affection were fair game. Healing and recovery were to be lauded. They valued progress. When they recognised it, they made sure to mark it with words, fist-pumps, hugs, claps, approving nods, etc. Almost to say, ‘this is how we roll’.

Lesson for Teams

Values can go either way. They can remain words on a post-it note, slowly gathering dust, or they can be alive and steer team behaviour. There are a few ways to encourage the latter:

• Build your values into your team's vocabulary, using them as regular touchpoints.
• Tag emails or chat-bar discussions with team values (#integrity).
• When you see others embodying a value, hold a mirror up to them in the moment.

What values does your team celebrate?