Reality Checker Posters

Many of my clients have been after me to start selling my reality checker posters so we listened!  

We'll be updating our offerings regularly as we format them  for high resolution printing so visit often to check them out. .

Click here to check them out

The Real Conversation is...

This morning I read an article by Preston Manning about political discourse in Canada. A question he posed was, "Why is it so difficult to have meaningful debate on health-care reform or environmental conservation measures in Canada’s political arena, despite the importance of such issues and the desperate need for action on both fronts?"

I would like to say the column is relevant and applicable beyond Canadian borders. How many times have you listened to a political debate in the US when the discussion (if you could call it that) promoted fear, slammed the opponent and totally ignored the issues at hand?

What happened to generative dialogue when two people come to the table, listen (yes, that word) to each other and then generate something very powerful for the sake of sustainability, thrivability, to serve the people they're supposed to be or wanting to be representing? What would it take for them to get over themselves and be present to the issue and challenges at hand?

How does this apply around a board room table? Governments? The UN? Executive committees? What would it take to make it stop?

Change Master

I just finished reading MJ Ryan's manifesto called Change Master. " In order to not merely to survive, but to thrive during the greatest period of transformation humans have ever experienced, we are all being called on to stretch mentally, emotionally, and spiritually into the future."

Now how relevant is this? There isn't a client organization I walk into these days that isn't dealing with change, transformation, downsizing, staffing up, redefining, centralizing, de-centralizing, going virtual...you name it. Change is a constant and until you're able to contextualize it and integrate it into what you do every day, you're going to struggle.

This manifesto is a keeper. Read it. At least twice. Share it with others and then discuss it. You'll be amazed at what emerges.

And here's a book that I just bought on my Kindle that's giving me a great deal of food for thought and to get me going on a few projects. "GIST" ("great ideas for starting things"). If you want to check it out, first link is for books, second for Kindle.

 

Commitment - Part 2

"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe

Years ago I adopted the motto "I live my life in direct proportion to the commitments I make and keep". That applies to my life...personal and professional. We seem to live in a throw-away world where we throw away people by disrespecting or ignoring them, throw away jobs as we run from what might be difficult, rather than learning from difficulty, run towards something we might think is easier, when it usually isn't and throw away things when they lose their novelty.

When we honour our commitments, we honour ourselves and those we've committed to. If for some reason the status quo has changed, then we still honour ourselves when, if need be, the commitments are redefined and not ignored or not thrown away.

For me, that's called authenticity.

But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, am I?

What Do You Have to Let Go Of?

I've asked this question before and, based on current trends and pressures, it looks like it's time I put this question on the table again. 

In order not to compromise quality of work, reputation, and trust, and to honor commitments, we have to look at what we accept and are accountable for and what we have to say no to. We also have to make choices to let go of some things so we can take on others.

Digging yourself out is making the difficult choices.  Digging yourself deeper is in thinking if you ignore those commitments, and remain silent about them, that they will go away. Not only won't they disappear but they'll turn into the shovel.

Commitment

If you want to succeed, be known as someone who lives by their word and honors commitments. I've been hearing way too many people lament on broken promises, commitments that aren't kept, appointments that are forgotten or tossed aside for something better and for promises made that are hollow with no intention of honoring them.

In one of my book interview conversations we spoke about how all too often people state something and then don't do it. People take their word so lightly. Why say something that you're not going to do? 

We have loyalty to businesses and professionals who value our time, energy and business. No matter what the deal, if we feel as if we're screwed in the process, we'll hesitate to go back. If it happens a second time we'll end up returning to or searching for the place that believes in authentic customer service. 

It happens in relationships, families, friendships, partnerships, all realms of our life. If we feel we've been set aside for something or someone 'better' that comes along, we won't stick around for long. I see it happening with social climbers. They made a commitment to do something or see someone but if someone more famous or better connected wants to book something, they're quick to cancel. 

Think twice before making that cancellation. That person just might end up being your boss or inlaws someday. Being set aside is something they will never forget.

Note: We are now up to 141 country subscribers!  There are too many to list here so to see what countries are a part of the Perspectives community of readers, check out the sidebar.

Are Conversations Still Alive and Well?

Mitch Joel, in his blog Six Pixels of Separation asked "Are we seeing a new shift in Social Media? Are the conversations dead? Were they ever - really - alive?"

Yes, Mitch, conversations are still alive although floundering. Our organization ICCO (International Consortium for Coaching in Organizations) not only creates venues to have these generative conversations but make sure we keep the numbers small so we can approach the topics of the day, the future, and what organizations are living from multiple perspectives to create solutions. Those conversations don't happen talking at people.  They happen at in person edgy conversations that aren't happening anywhere else.These conversations continue through social media. Our Facebook, LinkedIn groups are alive and well and we continue the back and forth that was started in person.

I believe people engage in social media to get messages out there, and perhaps to get input. I see the power of blogs (evident as I'm posting on one right now) and how blogs like Mitch's get my mind going so I can share my perspectives with you.  I don't believe gathering a gazillion twitter followers and letting them know I'm having coffee at the Starbucks in Washington is going to stimulate (sorry about the pun) anyone's thinking or learning.

So again I find myself waffling about whether or not to keep my twitter going.

Conversations are powerful. They're necessary so we don't become a superficial world. In my book Leaders, Their Stories, Their Words, I explore this with Barry Libert who insists that a combination of social media and in person conversation is what's necessary to keep a healthy balance. I agree. Connection happens in two way conversations. Thanks for the reality check Mitch!