I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live |
|
I'm entering April three days into a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) situation. You DO NOT want this to happen to your computer. So now I am hobbled by not having my main computer and my files. I am relying on my laptop and my short-term memory, while I hold my breath and pray that at least my files will be recovered.
By the way, did you know that \ is a backslash and / is a slash? Is it possible I have been getting this common computer keystroke wrong since, well, the invention of computers. D'oh!
March was a nice, long month full of nice, long meetings. Okay, some meetings were too long. But it's good to witness that a year into this pandemic, people are finding new ways to work, contribute, learn, and love.
I completed the Indigenous Canada course (UofAlberta). I've said it before, but it's free and I really recommend having a look. I now hear the news and experience current events quite differently. I also did several webinars on all kinds of topics, including Diversity & Inclusion on Boards.
I had the privilege of serving on a panel through the Edmonton Arts Council and the Calgary Arts Development Centre. The topic was governance during a pandemic, and the conversation was rich and informative. I was in excellent company with panelists Leslie Evans (Federation of Calgary Communities), Justin Solamillo (Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism, & Status of Women), and Hitomi Suzuta (AUPE and long time board member).
I attended (online) "Don Juan Comes Back From the War", a 1936 play by Ödön von Horvath and directed by Amy de Felice. I am truly impressed by the ways artists are getting their work to audiences.
I started my fourth 4-week beer course through University of Alberta with instructor Jason Foster. This one is on old world and new world beers, and the evolution of the industry. I'm enjoying it as much as all the other ones to date. I (safely) visited some breweries and even got to try the same beer 3 ways (can, draft, side pour draft). Check out this video from Pilsner Urquell if you want to see the difference.
Have an awesome April!
/lmwe
““You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” -- Jack London
|
Changing How We Mourn
There are different kinds of grief and these days, we are certainly grieving differently. There are also different kinds of grief. The Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University offers these ideas for healing through grief.
- Hono(u)r your loved one and yourself; discover your own interests and values.
- Ease emotional pain; open yourself to emotions — both painful and pleasant ones; trust that you can deal with emotional pain; it doesn't control you.
- Accept grief and let it find a place in your life.
- Learn to live with the reminders of your loss.
- Integrate memories of your loved one; let them enrich your life, and help you learn and grow.
- Narrate stories of the death for yourself; share them with others.
- Gather others around you; connect with your community, let people in and let them support you.
This white paper contains grief milestones and other supports. It is totally worth a look. And I am sorry for your loss.
|
|
Unanimity, Majority, or Consensus? |
Consensus remains a misunderstood concept for many boards. Most people understand "majority" as being more than 50% voting a particular way. Most understand "unanimity," as being 100% voting a particular way. But "consensus"? Not so much.
In my years with boards, I haven't found a better/easier explanation than the Fist to Five system. I apologize I don't know where this model originated, but I have seen it used effectively in all kinds of organizations.
Fist to Five is accomplished by raising your hand as in voting, then raising a number of fingers to indicate your level of agreement.
-
A fist means, “I vote NO” or in consensus it means, “I object and will block consensus" (usually on moral grounds).
-
1 finger means, “I’ll just barely go along” or, “I don’t like this but it’s not quite a no” or, “I think there is lots more work to do on this proposal.” In consensus this indicates standing aside, or not being in agreement but not blocking the consensus.
-
2 fingers means “I don’t much like this but I’ll go along.”
-
3 fingers means, “I’m in the middle somewhere. I like some of it, but not all.”
-
4 fingers means, “This is fine.”
-
5 fingers means, “I like this a lot, I think it’s the best possible decision.”
There is a process to using this model (don't worry, it's easy). Here are some key components:
- When you're ready for a vote, people raise their hands with the number of fingers that indicate their degree of agreement with the proposal. Hands up high so everyone can see.
- The vote can stand as taken, with majority winning.
- Or, people with fists and one finger can be asked to speak to their objections and offer possible solutions to overcome their objections.
- A second and final vote is taken, which is your result.
- You can even try this early in the process, as the group might be closer to consensus than you think. Only those with fists or one finger speak.
- A low quality vote (1s, 2s, 3s) tells you the decision is probably a stop gap measure and will need to be watched closely or revisited soon. Attach a date for review.
- If it is obvious the vote is very split (no real majority), the group knows it has more work to do, and that the decision may not endure.
To some of you this model may sound "touchy-feely" or you worry that it will add time to your meetings. In fact, it can really save time as well as improve the quality and durability of your decisions.
Finally, Fist to Five works really well on virtual meeting platforms. Assuming cameras are on, this is a quick way to gauge the mood of the group or the quality of the "yes."
Here is one article I like on this model.
|
"He just stepped in, and stepped up."
"He was the guy who called...who followed up."
"When the first thing you do in your best moment is reach out to the guys in their worst moment...
that is character."
Although he didn't know it, Chris Schultz was important to me. Rest in Peace.
|
|
 |
Some People Who Made My Life Better in March |
MaryJane Alanko, David Cheoros, Jonathan Crane, Brian Edwards, Leo Ezerins, Jason Foster, Liz Garratt, Deborah Howes, Kimberley Hunter Lee, Dianne Johnstone, Lynn MacAskill, Karen MacKenzie, Dorothy Marshall, Andy Northrup, Peter Portlock, Hector Pothier, Melissa Tuplin, Lisa Watson, Jill Wood
“Happiness is meeting an old friend after a long time and feeling that nothing has changed.” -- Cris Dar
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is Your Leadership Helping Or Hurting? |
I enjoyed this article by Lolly Daskall, author of "The Leadership Gap."
Daskall talks about leaders who jump in to help, and asks whether this practice helps or hurts the employees. Here are some ways you might be unintentionally hurting:
You don’t give your employees a chance to show what they’re capable of.
You tell people what to do instead of letting them show you what they can do.
You’re constantly speaking and don’t allow others to express their opinion.
You provide solutions to problems other people should be solving.
You complicate simple business processes.
You act like an expert when you’re not.
You say things like “I know best.”
You give rewards where there hasn’t been effort.
You play favorites with your team.
You say you’re going to do something but you don’t.
You shame, criticize, or blame others publicly in meetings.
You accept mediocrity.
If you're doing things with good intentions and getting bad results, you might want to keep your eye on these.
|
|
Some Quotes I Like
“If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that
weigh you down.” -- Toni Morrison
“What we do is more important than what we say
or what we say we believe.” -- bell hooks
“You are the person who has to decide.
Whether you'll do it or toss it aside;
You are the person who makes up your mind.
Whether you'll lead or will linger behind.
Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar.
Or just be contented to stay where you are.”
-- Edgar A. Guest
“Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.”
-- Eric Hoffer
|
How to Make a Decision
Here's a great reminder from Alli Polin (breaktheframe.com) of how to kick yourself into gear when you freeze in the face of a decision.
5 Questions
1. What happens if I do nothing?
2. Which option has the most positive energy for me?
3. Are any of my choices un-doable? (Am I stuck, or can I turn around and choose again?)
4. How do I react when I take a choice off of the table for further consideration? Relieved or stressed?
5. Can I make it happen?
5 Tips
1. Put a time constraint on making the decision, if there’s not one already.
2. Shift from avoidance of the WRONG decision to identifying the RIGHT one.
3. Tap into the way it makes you feel, not only the effort it will take.
5. Take ownership of the decision. It’s tempting to ask 9,999 other people what they would do, but the choice is yours to make.
|
|
"Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today." -- Ernest Hemmingway
#BeKind
Linda & LUE-42 Enterprises
(As ever, with fond acknowledge to Douglas Adams & The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)
African Proverb
|
|
Linda Wood Edwards
P.O. Box 11021, Station Main,
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3K3
780.918.4200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
