As I explore the metaphor of elastic leadership with groups, they continue to find new ways to apply it. One participant recently observed that if an elastic is stretched hard in one direction, it doesn’t have much give available to be stretched in other directions. Sounds familiar, right? We can only stretch so far before we snap, and the demands on our stretchiness feel cumulative.
Continue reading “Zero Sum Adaptability Thinking”Out of Shape
Most elastics are designed to be reusable. Exercise bands, hair elastics, the rubber bands that come with broccoli…all are designed to be used more than once.
But if an elastic stays stretched for too long, it won’t go back to its previous shape. It might still be useful, but not for its original use.
Can you relate?
Continue reading “Out of Shape”Stir Up Creativity
“I need more ____ in my life.”
How would you fill in that blank right now?
Fun?
Certainty?
Nature?
Adventure?
Variety?
Joy?
Inspiration?
Forewarned
Where I live, it is becoming increasingly possible for people to meet in person.
And my stress level is rising.
Not so much because of COVID risk, but because uncertainty is stressful. And higher stress means lower adaptability. Hear the paradox? So I’m digging into the source of the stress, and it’s because people are shifting gears on short notice. Forewarned is forearmed.
Continue reading “Forewarned”Beware of Misplaced Metaphors
I Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like is both a clever book title and a useful resource.
Metaphors are powerful. One of my closest friends, Susan Fish, is a masterful writer of metaphors and they enliven her prose. Matt Church’s incorporation of metaphor into the well-rounded thinking of Thought Leaders Business School has been transformative to the way I communicate (click here to get your free copy of Think).
Continue reading “Beware of Misplaced Metaphors”