mindset

Despite Appearance, It is Not the Same Meeting

Even if the agenda looks the same, the meeting is different. Each participant has encountered new information and experiences between gatherings. The world changed. New members joined our efforts and others departed. Our services and contributions have had an impact, positive and negative. We are not looking at the same conditions.

Imagine watching a firework show. At first glance, each burst of light and corresponding boom appear to be the relative similar. Then we notice the different colors, shapes, alternating lengths of illumination, height, and pattern changes. Even the launch angle and sequencing of the shells remains variable. No two firework shows are the same.

How might we embrace that we are never looking at the same thing despite initial appearances and patterns? Even if we meet in the same location, with the usual group, on a repetitive day of the month, and rely on practiced parliamentary procedures, we are not assembling for a duplicate meeting. Our greatest fault is thinking we are convening for repetition when everything is new.

Why Human-Centered Strategies?

It is convenient to believe that the money our cause raises, the facilities we build, the programs we nurture, and the brand we build are the core of our cause’s work. However, none of these elements can tell our story. They are the results of our work. The people who inhabit these space, donate resources, attend the programs, and ride for the brand are the story-tellers. They represent the conduit through which our narrative transfers from one individual to the next.

The bib I wore during a nordic ski race and the medal that might come with an age-group award are just ordiments. They alone do not have much depth, possibly props in my story. I can hold them-up to talk about the fierce cold and headwinds that faced the race participants. I can point to them and describe the pack of skiers who worked together to battle the elements. I can hang them on the wall and they remind me of an adventure, but they do not tell the story.

Our travel photos capture a moment in time but are exponentially more powerful when they support the story. Was our Eiffel Tower photo taken during a romantic walk, evening run, from a train crossing the Seine, or just a screenshot? The photo might be memorable but the story provides a greater dimension.

We must get comfortable elevating our stories. Unless we can compete on scale and overwhelm our fans with endless offerings, our narratives will be our strongest point of engagement. If we agree to amplify our stories, then how might we generate human-centered strategies to support our community? How might we be remarkable for the behaviors and experiences we curate?

Question of the Day

What if we start each day or meeting with a framing question? Something that provides insights and intention. Not a rhetorical question about how we can be more awesome but more on the generative side.

Yesterday, my question of the day was, ‘how might I find adventure while being in a mixed mindset that is trending towards adversity?’ An hour into my road bike ride and I was rolling on my rear rim at 12 mph, a victim of a second flat tire in a ten minute span. I limped towards a bike shop I found on Google Maps which was my last oasis before making the dreaded call for a ride home. Ben’s Bikes quickly outfitted me with two new tubes and air cartridges, plus the good karma of a bulldog who was clearly in-charge of all front door greeting operations.

Back on course, I was relieved to be riding and not headed home in a sag wagon. Quickly, I encountered another cyclist who was riding the same direction and we spent the next two hours sharing a great adventure. I able to guide through the less obvious sections of the bike path (my new cycling companion was on his first lap of The Loop in Tucson) and he provided great conversation and enthusiasm for being out for a ride.

Employing a framing question provided context for the day. I unexpectedly experienced both adversity and adventure. With a bit of focus, I was prepared to head a few more chapters into the journey when the plot took an unexpected turn.

How might questions created a more remarkable experiences?

Magnetic

Some items attract and repel (not a scientific definition of magnets). Yesterday, I used aluminum foil next to the microwave while heating up oatmeal. The aluminum foil pieces sailed off the counter. I was perplexed until I realized I had created an unsustainable environment in which these two items could not co-exist.

Consider the activities that are on your ‘not a chance’ list. It might be walking over a swinging bridge, teaching preschool, entering a burning structure, voting for a policy, spending money on a luxury, or eating a local delicacy. There are activities that we are not willing to try (or the condition have not forced us to attempt them).

How might we resonate with those who see our work as essential and not seek the attention of those who are not ready to engage?

Taxi to Takeoff

Do not forget that even when the boarding door closes, we still must taxi before we takeoff. It is convenient to think our flight encompasses only the flying portion. Taxing to the runway allows us to prepare, reveals new insights, and is part of the journey.

How might we realize that a decision does not equate to immediate action? There is a series of events that require sequencing before we are en route.

Point of Information vs Point of Action

If you look at a ‘to do’ list, is it a point of information or point of action? If you login to a bank statement, receive a project update, weigh yourself, plan a gym workout, how do you respond? Is action necessary or is being informed satisfactory?

How might we inquire about establishing our mindset before reacting to our environment? A budget report with variances might need a brief review and acknowledgement. However, it might require immediate interventions to address a troubling trend.

Being clear before the starter’s pistol sounds means we have a plan and intention to act upon. Otherwise, we may just be pointed in the wrong direction, with inadequate equipment, and focused on an old course map.

Big Bet versus Little Bets

Super Bowl betting is in progress. There are numerous strategies and options. One big question, do you make one big bet, on say the outcome of the game? Or, do you make a bunch of smaller prop bets on first team to score, first turnover, length of the national anthem? Big bet keeps us engaged because of the risk. The small bets keep us focused on the details throughout the game.

The same is true with setting strategies. Make one big bet to fundamentally change education or eradicate a disease. We can go all in with our resources and attention. Or, make a series of smaller investments in pilot programs and beta-testing. They may end-up with similar results but how they are viewed might depend on our organization’s culture. If we value adventure and risk taking, the big bet might fill a need. If we value personal interactions, the micro-bets might allow us to travel alongside with those that we are serving.

Big bets get headlines at the start. Little bets take time to build a track record but might build a movement. No right or wrong, just our best sense on which type of bet is required to perform the work that matters.

Out-Back Versus Loop

Is there a difference in our mindsets when we commence a journey that is an out-back route versus a loop? Do we prepare or even pace ourselves differently? When we know we are going to retrace our steps, we benefit in both the experience of the moment and the knowledge of the terrain we will face on return. When we take-on a loop, each turn in the trail reveals new information and a fresh challenge. A loop may benefit our sense of adventure and exploration.

What if we consider out-back options when we want to test new techniques or equipment? It provides us greater flexibility if our travels do not go as planned. What if we commit to the loops when we are strategically aligned?

How might our desire to innovate thrive based on our route choice?

Different Purpose

Viewed from the base, a ski area has a specific layout. Observed from above, and the terrain appears different. Ski areas are designed for skiers, however they can provide interest even for those who are not skiing.

Perhaps it is worth remembering that not everyone who benefits from our organization comes through the front door. Many a cathedral has been celebrated from the outside without engaging in the religious ecosystem that flourishes inside.