Resources on Exploring Change and Leading Now
Photo by Paul Appleton
A colleague shared with me recently this statement that has stuck with me:
We may all be going through the same storm, but we’re in different boats.
That captures our current times well, I think.
It also reminds me of another water-related metaphor from a coaching class:
As a coach, you will be with people in the river of their lives as it flows slower or faster and as it hits unexpected rapids. That does not mean that you jump into the water and get pulled down the river with them.
Personal and professional lives are colliding now for many folks who previously tried to check their home lives at the office door. We may be sensing a wider range of emotions showing up with us in meetings; stress, fear, and anxieties may be occupying more space and making it difficult for us to focus on work. There’s a lot going on in the world right now at all levels, from the individual experience to relationships with loved ones to business impacts to societal challenges.
It can be awkward or uncomfortable to talk about what we’re experiencing now. Conversely, it can be awkward or uncomfortable to not acknowledge what we’re experiencing now. To help leaders and teams express, I’ve been introducing the Satir change model and Zone of Proximal Development as models they can use to reflect internally and share with others where they are; the language has made it easier for them to connect emotionally without getting overly vulnerable and better recognize what support they and their coworkers need.
A recorded version of this presentation is available through Agile Ungathering 2020, along with other presentations by great agile speakers. I was especially excited to see these topics and speakers included for more resources you may find helpful during this unpredictable time:
Bob Galen on "Self-care for Coaches, Leaders, and Change Agents"
Tricia Broderick on "Challenges of Being the Leader"
You can register for Agile Ungathering 2020 and gain access to watch these presentations and others on your own schedule. Regular tickets sell for $47, and you can get $10 discount off regular ticket price using the discount code: allison
