The first time I sat on a Board of Directors, it didn’t go particularly well. In hindsight, I think it’s because I took too long to contribute. I took on the role of the quiet newbie for the first year of my term, which only left me two years to make whatever impact I could. That impact was minimal for several other reasons, one of which was not having a team around me that was interested in leveraging the contributions I could offer. They communicated quite clearly that they were fine without me. Continue reading “Ask and Tell”
The Spaces in Between
Once you see something, you can’t unsee it.
I remember feeling that way after taking a beginner art class several years ago. The instructor encouraged us to look not at details, but at patches of dark and light in a landscape. That perspective was new to me, and it highlighted the spaces between things in new ways. I can’t not bring it to my awareness anymore. Continue reading “The Spaces in Between”
I Hate Group Work
The irony is not lost on me that I help people collaborate for a living, as I was always that student that disliked group work. Now, I’ve raised four people who are like me in that way. Sigh. Still today, I often work alone.
Dig a little deeper though, and it’s not surprising that I would devote considerable attention to helping groups create the conditions for successful group work. I want fewer people to have to endure group assignments that they could do faster and better themselves. Continue reading “I Hate Group Work”
Adept at Adapting
The slowest pace of change you will ever experience for the rest of your life is happening right now.
~The Adaptation Advantage
(McGowan and Shipley 2020)
Did you sigh when you read that?
We know the pace of change is accelerating. We also know the need for continuous adaptation isn’t disappearing anytime soon.
And we’re getting some good practice at it! We’ve been invited and forced to adapt more in the past year than at any other time in our lives. Continue reading “Adept at Adapting”
When Inclusive Isn’t Safe
One of the key skills of a facilitator is ensuring all voices are heard. It’s something we keep in mind in every meeting and in the overall design of projects. Within the core competencies of the International Association of Facilitators, we pledge to promote inclusiveness by encouraging “positive regard for the experience and perception of all participants.” In the IAF Statement of Values and Code of Ethics, members “strive to engender an environment of respect and safety where all participants trust that they can speak freely.” Hearing from everyone in the room is part of most facilitators’ DNA.
Can you already hear echoes of the contradiction I’m struggling with? Continue reading “When Inclusive Isn’t Safe”