If we want people to be engaged and empowered during the next two years, then we must build clarity and understanding. This can only happen if we have the courage to discuss difficult topics and complex problems.
Many leaders shy from this level of work because it makes them feel uncomfortable and the outcome is unpredictable. They instead prefer control and order over interdependence and alignment.
If we also seek resiliency in the midst of sustained uncertainty, then we must remember the following insights captured in Margaret Wheatley’s book called Turning To One Another: simple conversations to restore hope to the future (Berret-Koehler, 2001).
First, “In conversation, we are remembering as much as we are learning…. Language gives us the means to know each other better. That’s why we invented it.”
Second, “Because conversation is the natural way that humans think together, it is, like all life, messy…. Meaningful conversations depend on our willingness to forget about neat thoughts, clear categories, narrow roles. Messiness has its place. We need it anytime we want better thinking or richer relationships.”
Third, “Change always starts with confusion; cherished interpretations must dissolve to make way for the new.”
This week, share the above three insights with your team. Explore with them how to create more safe and respectful conversations. Navigating the complexities of this recovery are going to require all of us to do a better job of listening and sharing.
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