Hi Friend
I was talking to a friend yesterday and he asked “What was the highlight of your week?” I started rattling off something significant that happened EVERY DAY. I was shocked, giddy and grateful. They ranged from personal, to family to business. They weren’t small matters either. I had a hard time identifying just one as the highlight. I hope your week was that way too!
One of them was being part of an online conference. I had pre-recorded my Navigate the Rapids of Change message at the OKC White Water course a couple of months ago. To see it broadcast and engage in the conversations in the chat while it was playing was quite satisfying. Between you and me, I like how different mine was compared to every other presentation.
One of our three core values is DISTINCT. This is what I love about values. Even in a virtual world, remaining true to who we are and doing work in line with our principles is not only possible, but executing with excellence is available. No doubt about it, transitioning to do work remotely has been difficult for a majority of businesses. Remaining aligned to our beliefs is strained when we don’t have income any more.
Personally and professionally, the instinct to survive can cause our thoughts and actions to lead us to a place we didn’t know we could go. Staying in sync with our values is our most secure step to guarantee we endure. Yet many will divert from long-held beliefs because fear rages. Certainly when this season concludes it would be nice to imagine we’d all extend a little more grace.
Does Crisis Swell Compassion?
When we see individuals acting uncharacteristically where do our thoughts go? I suspect not very far. Most of us are living with little margin in all realms of life; therefore making observations of others, quickly assessing, logging judgment and moving on.
That is certainly one cool aspect of COVID19 – our genuine efforts to check in on one another with a sincere interest in the well-being of our fellow humans. I’d say a hesitant yes to the question above, in light of how humanity has responded.
Does Crisis Create Chaos?
Initially, and continually, there is a scrambling to determine what next steps to take. It has generated dozens and dozens of extra meetings to discuss possibilities, losses, gains and opportunities. There’s been a rush to determine how to function. We are now settled into routines, yet still an underlying uncertainty keeps everyone on edge, just a tad.
What I’ve seen and maybe you have too, is those organizations who were well-grounded in their values have revealed strength, or at least order. Whereas, others have cracked or crumbled, not just financially, but organizationally because their foundation was lacking. It’s curious what comes visible in a sustained dilemma. I suspect reality is revealed more than created via crisis.
Does Crisis Purge Mediocrity?
Yes and then some.
Does Crisis Play Fair?
It does not. I’ve interacted with people who go into their office every day, whose businesses are still buzzing along and whose future seems secure. I’ve also had lots of conversations with people who are displaced, furloughed, let go, struggling to make ends meet with no immediate indication that the consequences aren’t going to be long lasting.
Not to mention the kids. At every level of education, from kindergarten through college the normal historical experience is just not happening! Not even close. This is now their experience and how it plays out for their future is a mystery.
Yet, Hope.
We are no longer looking for silver linings, we are forced to formulate all new clouds. Not just temporarily because the sky has changed permanently. Old clouds don’t float. The ongoingness of this wretched COVID has mandated a relentless adaption to the unknown. How bizarre?
Yet, Hope.
If your organization doesn’t have active values, this is a fantastic time to explore those. The clarity that comes from the question “What’s most important now?” contains indicators for core values. In our personal lives, the same is true. Talk about a season to crystalize who and how we want to be?!
Yet, Hope.
The passing of time doesn’t just make things better or worse. Time is the river we navigate these rapids on. It just keeps flowing. Redesigning our daily routines has transpired by now. Redesigning our daily thoughts may take us longer. Of course, THAT is where we will succeed or fail as we continue forward.
Instigating Ideas
1. Where, how and for who has your compassion grown?
2. What are your personal values? Professional?
3. Where have you seen excellence executed despite challenges?
4. What creative approaches have you seen towards serving students?
I know this is crazy, but I really like virtual conferences. I couldn’t say that a year ago or even six months. But the interaction I get to have with the audience members while the video of me is playing is tremendous! I LOVE IT.
Have you found or built new clouds that are surprisingly enjoyable?
I dare you to entirely let go of something you want to “come back”. I would love to hear how you shift your thinking from “new normal” to entirely new skies, building new clouds? Please Share.