Big Meetings For Small Changes
Asking the question ‘how do we make things better around here’ is a great conversation to dive into and get serious about.
It might even warrant calling a meeting, having a big brainstorm session, reading up on great organizations and leaders.
But remember that all this big important effort and intention might only result in a tiny idea being implemented…as opposed to an overhaul of every minute of every work day.
Consider this…
The boss decides to come in five minutes early and make the coffee.
It sends a message about being on time. It sends a message about serving and caring. It smells good when the others walk in. The others feel taken care of. The others learn if they get there a couple minutes early they can have some extra relaxed time with the boss. We’re all drinking coffee…together. It becomes a shared interest.
It’s easy to think that big meetings should equal big changes. But often times big changes are small.
The Broken Vase
You can’t control how the vase breaks.
The breaking is sudden and explosive.
It probably shouldn’t have been so close to the edge. Playing volleyball in the vicinity wasn’t a good idea. And not many things that fall from that high up onto a concrete floor are going to survive anyway.
The pieces are scattered far and wide.
Now it’s time to decide whether to put the vase back together or buy a new one.
Metaphorically speaking.
Who You Hang With
If you want to get good at painting, hang out with painters.
If you want to get paint jobs, hang out with trim carpenters.
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If you want to get good at bass, hang with bass players.
If you want bass gigs, hang with drummers…or band leaders.
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If you want to get good at three point shooting, hang with the shooters.
If you want to be the three point shooter in a game, find a team of post players.
Problematic
You want the guitar quieter in the second verse…that’s not a problem. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But the guitar player wants the guitar louder in the second verse.
Your opinion isn’t wrong. Neither is the guitar player’s.
Neither opinion is a problem…but they’re problematic.
Why? Because you’re in this together.
We allow it to be problematic because we value both opinions and realize that the ultimate goal is to get to the other side TOGETHER.
Signals From Stage
What signal are you looking for from stage that the show is working?
If one person is giving the signal, is that enough? Or does everyone need to be doing it?
How will they know to give the signal?
Who has more power, the people giving the signal or the other people?
»» It’s worth remembering that no one in the room is being forced to be there…so their presence is a positive sign in itself.