The Tug of War technique uses force field analysis to graphically represent positive and negative forces of a challenge, ultimately maximizing positive forces and minimizing negative forces.
Tug-Of-War is based on force field analysis developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin. This allows you to perceive positive and negative forces that pull you toward the respective best-case scenario or worst-case scenario.
After you identify the forces and scenarios, you can use three techniques to change the conditions: maximize personal strengths, minimize weaknesses, or add positive forces.
For the force field analysis, the challenge is written over a graph in which the individual aspects/task fields (in Michalko conditions) are listed one below the other. Now each aspect can be tugged to the best-case scenario (left) or the worst-case scenario (right) in an imaginary tug-of-war. After this inventory, work can be done on changing the individual aspects to ultimately win the tug of war. Once the forces at work in your challenge are known, they are negotiable “like a mountain on wheels” (quote).
