Unity – Diversity Uncommon Common Ground (UCG) Polarity Dynamics starts with the understanding that groups or communities usually start off based on what is held in common. When the issue of individuality emerges, this challenges the group to step back and reconsider what it holds in common and whether it is strong enough to allow these differences. It may find that the common ground or "center" cannot hold in the face of these challenges. But instead of pitting one against the other, another possibility is to consider that our understanding of "common ground" may have been limited. If we could find another type of common ground that was able to bring harmony to its so-called challenges, this would resolve the dilemma. The common ground that usually holds a group together can perhaps also be labeled the "lowest common denominator". This is a term used for adding fractions or parts of a unit to get the sum. This works well for mathematics or arithmetic, and so the procedure is generally imported to apply also to people in groups. Again it works well here too, but often only for a short time, and unfortunately is bound to fail in the long run. People are people and we can't expect them like robots to fit neatly into the ways of numbers. When members of a group or community are true to themselves and express their uniqueness or individuality, it seems logical that their many differences would create much tension. In practice and in my experience, the opposite is true. In being authentic, a person places him or herself on a level different from the norm. Although there may be nothing that is outwardly similar between such persons, there is an undefinable quality they share that enables them find a common ground. I call this the "highest common numerator" to distinguish it from the usual common ground. Those who live and relate to others authentically know this undefinable "highest common numerator" from experience. It emerges when people come together who bring out their best while refusing to get stuck on the normal level of group experience, where they have to sacrifice their uniqueness or individuality. People who do this are unique in a unique way, which speaks of the term "sui generis". Sui generis is a Latin term which refers to being in a class of its own, unique to itself. Normally people are afraid to be true to who they really are and to manifest or express their uniqueness for fear of the consequences. But when they are willing to risk this and stand their ground, they find one of two things. Either the group rejects them, in which case they discover that they are happy not to be part of that group any more. Or the group does in fact welcome this true uniqueness and finds a place for it, in which case both the group and the individual are made stronger. Either way, the outcome is positive. An awareness of this "uncommon common ground" (UCG) and its role in the group is important in enabling this to occur. It may be that the goal toward which the group is working is truly the reason for the group's existence, and it would be unwise to allow a person to remain a part of it whose presence distracts from that goal. On the other hand, the UCG represents an opportunity to turn our attention to unforeseen possibilities, and for both the group and the individuals within it to experience a new and unusual level of cooperation, harmony and effectiveness.
Feedback or comments welcome.
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