The Symbolic Frame

The symbolic frame is one of the frames that I had never deeply considered as being a structural frame in organizations until I read about the concept in Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal's book Reframing Organizations. It's one of those concepts you know is there because there is usually a feeling in your stomach (positive or negative) that you get when you see the symbol of an organization. In your own organization, you look at the logo, and you understand everything that goes into what that logo really means to you as a team member in the organization.  Bolman and Deal explain this frame with this, "The symbolic frame focuses on how myth and symbols help people make sense of the chaotic, ambiguous world in which they live. Meaning, belief, and faith are its central concerns." (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p. 249) The symbols that are valuable to the organization and its culture are visuals and "norms" for the organization that make individuals feel as though they are part of something bigger than themselves. Bolman and Deal discuss stories as a useful tool when it comes to the symbolic frame because "stories, like folk or fairy tales, offer more than entertainment and moral instructions for small children. They grant comfort, reassurance, direction, and hope to people of all ages. They externalize inner conflicts and tensions." (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p. 261) In my Symbolic Frame Analysis Worksheet, I follow the previous structure and format diving deeper into how the symbolic frame had an impact on the conflicting situation with one of my coworkers. 

Symbolic Frame Personal Analysis - Worksheet

Reflection

The symbolic frame of organizations focuses more on the feelings the organization invokes on the employees, customers, and stakeholders. It is about putting a story, a goal, and a motivation behind the logo of an organization. The symbols that represent your company not only bring feelings and ease into team member's, but it should also mean something to customers of the organization. With social media being ever so popular in society, organizations should be taking advantage of their online presence to bring in new customers, and the thing people on social media notice about an organization is their logo, the symbols, the meaning, and the value the organization brings into their own life. 

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Reference:​ ​Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership (7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass