I recently accepted a friend request on Facebook from a relative I don’t know well. She immediately commented on some of my posts, so I visited some of hers. What I found was a welcome breath of fresh air and a model for others on social media! For example, my new friend had shared an article from christianpost.com entitled “We are pro-life evangelicals for Biden.” Not only was this article political, it addressed abortion, the issue garnering possibly the most unyielding and entrenched positions. Can you feel the heat just thinking about it? Thirty-five comments later, I was wishing I could bottle and sell the tone and techniques I had encountered in this very serious discussion. The first comment could have triggered a typical series of angry, disrespectful Facebook rants: “Pro-life refers to abortion. All these other issues can’t be tacked on. Harris and Biden are pro-choice, not pro-life.” My Visit To Wonderland
After almost two decades of running pretty much all of the meetings I attend, I suppose there was a danger that I might forget what it’s like to be on the receiving end. Well, it all came roaring back to me the other day as I sat helplessly in a socially distanced meeting.
I hate to tell you this, but we will never return to the old normal, whatever that was. Looking back, it may seem there was a time when change crawled at glacial speed, but that’s only a figment of your poor memory and rose-colored glasses. Change is constant. Furthermore, it is accelerating. We can’t go back. Those who recognize that and chart a new course will thrive and the rest are destined to pine.
I heard several interesting interviews on NPR the other day. These were people who care about our country as much as I do. Who care about many of the same issues as I do. Who exhibit many of the same values. Thoughtful, kind, caring people. But people who have reached completely different conclusions about the state of the country, who is doing what, who thinks what, and what needs to be done.
I have been publishing my Clear Thoughts newsletter since 2005 and have never missed my publication date. Today, however, I am taking a bit of a break. And this is why:
After moving to a small town in New Hampshire two years ago, I found myself getting involved in local issues where I have strong opinions. Ironically, despite all of my experience and success facilitating difficult decisions with clients, I am not an effective facilitator when I have strong opinions! And guess what. You aren’t an effective facilitator when you have strong opinions either!
Do you ever wonder how patient you should be? I’ve got executive advisory clients who struggle with this question. Some of them are naturally impatient, know they need to work at being more patient, but worry that being too patient sends the wrong message. Do you ever feel that way? So what can you do? Here is the short answer: