Discussion Week of 3/29- Paul Ryan Lecture

I found Professor Paul Ryan’s theories and thinking to be very interesting. Reading his findings on “threeing” and relationships were a bit confusing at first, but after reading through a few times, I found them to be universally applicable to any situation that involves collaboration with people. I was particularly intrigued by Chapter One: The Three Way Solution. I agree with him that a relationship between two people does not address the differences between them, and that understanding can only be achieved with a third person. Many couples often can’t see the conflicts in their relationship because they are relating only to one another. Only when a third person is brought into the mix, can comparisons be made and conflicts resolved.

I read through Professor Ryan’s Threeing lessons, like the listening exercise that he proposed. I think it’s a very clever way to give each member a different role, and encourage each member to address a different part of the story being told.In this way, each member listens for something different within the story, feelings, patterns, etc, and will be able to offer a different perspective for the storyteller. Ryan’s idea of shifting roles will also help to avoid conflict which occurs when power or roles are unevenly distributed. I’m definitely interested in taking a class with Professor Ryan in the near future.