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Growing Pressure to Monitor Cell Phone Use I found this article by Adam Grant enlightening, helpful, and hopeful. Here’s why: I have little control my grandchildren’s use of smartphones and social media, and I hope their parents monitor it. Psychologists recently released a 35-year study of nearly 83,000 students across the U.S., U.K., and Canada. Behold: young adults feel a growing pressure to be flawless! Parents and teachers hold unrealistic expectations and too often criticize children. It’s not just teachers but also coaches. There is a growing pressure to monitor cell phone use in efforts to curb use and remove the stress, so that young people can at least start making better judgement calls. Countries can also jump in. Australia set 16 as the minimum age for social media. Let’s all back off!! Remember, mistakes don’t make you a failure. They make you a learner. You can share this lesson and others on Adam Grant’s Substack or his podcasts on breaking up with perfectionism. Read The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown or The Perfection Trap by Thomas Curran. And considering how many typing mistakes I make, I’m a good target. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living—a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness. Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, "What if I can't keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn't everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?" In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, "No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough," and to go to bed at night thinking, "Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging." The Perfection Trap by Thomas Curran Today, burnout and depression are at record levels, driven by a combination of intense workplace competition, the comparative world of social media, the quest for elite credentials, and helicopter parenting. Society continually broadcasts the need to want more, and that we have to be perfect to get it. Why is this a trap, and how can we escape it? Gathering a wide range of contemporary evidence, acclaimed professor at the London School of Economics Thomas Curran calls for both a mindset shift and broader, societal change. He explores the paradoxical effects of perfectionism on everything from performance to social and financial inequality, and shows what we can do as individuals to resist the modern-day pressure to be perfect - and how we can create a culture that celebrates the joys of imperfection. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the soul-crushing need to compete for more or to be the best, The Perfection Trap is for you. Learn to prioritise what's important, meet the world where it is and strive for purpose instead of more by embracing the power of 'good enough' in your life.

10 Cyber Lockdown Tips John Sileo fascinated—and scared—us with all the ways cyber criminals can get into our professional and personal tools. When I get back, I have work to do in that realm. Here are 10 lockdown tips from John. Deep freeze your credit—lock credit accounts Enable two-step logins. Yes, a pain to do but… Use a password and Passkey Manager… Replace passwords with passkeys—stronger security Keep your operating system updated Lock down your smartphone—use a long password with numbers and symbols Secure your Internet browser. De-google your identity—reduce how much of your personal information is floating online. Back up your data. (I put everything in the cloud ) Respond quickly to identity theft. Thanks, John. And may I ask our readers to go to Amazon and order your books. SCAMS I Have Been Getting Text messages from “your clinical nurse that you have been approved for XY medicine.” I think I have received at least 6 of them. Calls from sources praising your book and saying they can get you in book clubs and on podcasts. I fell for this. Spent far too much money and have nothing to show for it. Dumb me. And beware of third-party hotel reservation sites. This got me too when I went online to a recommended hotel, Hampton Inn, Lancaster. It’s for my aunt’s funeral. I leave today. I went to change the reservation, and the agent said I couldn’t. WHAT???!!!! I am five days out!!! Discovered Reservation Desk is a third party, and they are charging me over $600 to cancel. I have put a stop on that credit card, but so far I can't find a Hampton or Hilton employee to help me. Stay safe online!

Welcome to the last two posts in the exploration of radical resilience. I have put them together because each assists the other. Consider Thriving Consider thriving. It means to come alive regardless of the circumstances or environment. Dolly Parton was an amazing example of thriving despite the circumstances. She was born into extreme poverty in a tiny one-room cabin in rural Sevier County, Tennessee. Dolly was the fourth of twelve children born to a sharecropper father and a homemaker mother. Her family lived without electricity or running water, and she famously described her upbringing as "dirt poor", noting that her parents once paid the doctor who delivered her with a sack of cornmeal. The children shared beds and wore clothes made from scrap fabric and feed sacks. Despite having very little material wealth, Parton has often spoken fondly of her childhood, describing her family as rich in love, faith, and music. Her experiences with poverty and her father's inability to read later inspired major philanthropic efforts, including her famous Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Circumstances in Life Should Not Stop Anyone In short, the circumstances of her life did not stop her; instead, they sparked an intense desire to do good in the world. She never let poverty define her; instead, she rose above it while remembering what “art” called to her heart: music. Today our world is horribly broken and fragile. The dictionary defines fragile as delicate and easily broken if not handled with care. Wars, natural disasters, poverty, power held in the hands of a few, and a growing income disparity all point to the ways in which individuals can feel broken and helpless. Even our natural world is fragile, with destruction caused by environmental abuse. And yet… and yet… as Dolly Parton demonstrated… if you find what calls your heart (as music called her) you can rise above circumstances. Radical resilience is NOT bouncing back but growing through to become better, wiser, and more comfortable in your own skin. Not easy, not overnight. But doable. Consider these Dolly Parton sayings. “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” "If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” “Storms make trees take deeper roots.” “Dreams are of no value if they’re not equipped with wings!” “You can wish your life away. But if you’re going to dream, you’re going to have to get out and, like I always say, you have to put some wings on them dreams, and some feet and fingers and some hands. They gotta get into some stuff. You can’t just sit around and think of all the things you want to do. You’ve got to think of what you want to do, and then you’ve got to get out and make that happen.” Thanks, Dolly. My new password is: wwdd “What would Dolly do?”

I admit to having a difficult time with this. For a starter, the hate speech, lies, and cruelty that have taken over my nation defy belief. Raised by parents who taught us that we owed allegiance to our country, and often we were asked what we did to help another person, I struggle with this. I find my energy dissolved into anger. This is NOT emotional regulation. It’s call visceral response. And it is not healthy. How to Engage with Emotional Regulation Emotional regulation begins with realizing that listening is core to regulating. But listening is not the same as hearing. I wear hearing aids. This mechanism helps me to bring in sounds and understand what words are being stated. But it is NOT listening. Listening is the psychological interpretation of what is being said. Words carry emotions, images, and experiences. For example: the nuances and the meanings of the word “toxic” can range from deadly to deliberately evil. To call someone “toxic” might signal danger and “stay away”. However, if that phrase is offered in a tone of sadness, our interpretation might be one of concern. STOP! Look (both ways) and LISTEN. Here is the point—when we become emotionally “hooked” by what we hear, STOP! I must ask myself why I am reacting in that fashion? What questions might I ask for clarification? Is my reaction going to generate anxiety or will it push me to dig deeper. It is so easy to find myself caught in a knee-jerk reaction without really following the railroad crossing rule: STOP! Look (both ways) and LISTEN. Remember, I teach what I need to learn!

In Part 1: “The Art of Thriving in a Fragile World”, I looked at what “radical” means in relationship to our response to a world enmeshed in overwork and under-pay and job demands fractured by AI and depleted resources. This second article, “The True Meaning of Resiliency,” explores what resilience really means—and it is NOT the dictionary definition. When I ask anyone to define resilience, I always hear “bounce back”. In 1620s, the word resilience came from the Latin to mean “The act of rebounding”. I think of rebounding as what my mother would say when a couple got divorced and one of the formerly married partners quickly became attached to another person. “Hmph,” Mom would snort, “Looks like they’re on the rebound.” Two Definitions of the Word Resiliency Merriam Webster defines “resiliency” in two ways: The capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress. An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. While there are individual words that seem to resonate with the human experience in these complex and disruptive times, there are two critical differences. You Can’t Go Back The first definition tells us that you can’t go back. You will never resume the same size, shape, relationship, job title, of what “was”. We are forever changed by an experience, an event, a personal interaction. You are different. You can’t step into the same river twice. The flow of water and life has moved on. In subtle and perhaps large ways, you are changed. Recover From or Adjust The second definition implies that misfortune or change serve as the catalyst for resilience. Even words like “recover” imply something sick, unwanted, disastrous. And, more importantly, resilience happens after the fact. A city becomes resilient AFTER the hurricane. Too late, according to Judith Rodin, president of The Rockefeller Foundation and author of The Resilience Dividend. Rodin makes a masterful case for how cities and companies can take advantage of new economic and social opportunities and become stronger in times of relative calm. Being proactive and in a state of readiness is common sense—even if common sense is not all that common! The True Meaning of Resiliency Resilience is both a life skill as well as an organizational strategy. Resilience is about growing wiser, stronger, more competent as well as compassionate for what each person is experiencing. Resilience requires energy which is the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. The good news is that organizations and individuals can begin cultivating resilience right now. Here are three steps for each. Cultivating Resilience for Individuals Practice Mind Sweeping Internal chatter tends to focus on what is wrong, missing, substandard and not up to par. Negative self-talk creates a doom loop that both drains energy as well as defeats responses that can be more life-giving, innovative, and creative. Write down what your mind is saying and then ask the critical question: “Is this REALLY true?” “What happens to my energy when I fall into this doom loop?” “Who could give me another way of looking at the situation?” Develop The Skill Of Intelligent Optimism Intelligent optimism invites you to explore what might be another way of viewing the situation. When the almost-disastrous Apollo 13 mission occurred, engineers came to Gene Krantz, head of Mission Control, and said they had tried everything, and nothing worked. It was a failure! Krantz did not accept that verdict. Instead, he replied, “Gentleman, this can also be our finest hour.” When my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, the doctor told her that she’d lose her bellybutton. Mom’s reframe: “Shucks, that means I can’t carry the flag in the parade.” Humor goes a long way in creating intelligent optimism. Nurture Your Support Base Actually, you better have a community or start growing one, even if it is only one or two people who stand ready to care and comfort. In fact, one way to help children become resilient—particularly if they are living in less-than-optimum situations, is to make sure there is at least one caring adult. Resiliency can be cultivated, according to the research, through a child's solid, meaningful connection with just one very caring individual.1 Cultivating Resilience for Organizations Sweep Away Meaningless Work Redundancy, email overload, and useless meetings are just some of the energy-draining activities that workers face on a daily basis. If you are in a leadership position, be bold and ask your team, “What are the things you do that seem to be time wasters?” Gather the data. What can be eliminated, altered, or adjusted in a more appropriate fashion. I remember hearing a contractor talk about being required to write a huge report that seemed to have extraneous details. He put a page from a recipe book in the report just to see if anyone even read it. Yes—you are correct. Not one comment about the recipe! Develop The Skill Of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Think of this as organizational reframing for intelligent optimism. Developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva, two professors at Case western Reserve, AI uses an appreciative approach to look at opportunities versus problems. It builds upon collaborative and strengths-based change. Imagine the power of bringing together a team to dream, develop and deliver products and processes that are life-enhancing for the organization. Elevate The Gift Of Gratitude Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you ever said was thank you, that would be enough”. Recall how your personal energy increased when someone noticed the work you did and acknowledged it. Remember, a pat on the back is a short distance from a kick in the pants but a LONG way in generating positive results. Resilience, the ability to grow through challenge or opportunity, is enhanced when one’s effort are noticed. Simple step. Powerful in results. And cousin to gratitude is kindness. There’s a Persian proverb, “With a sweet tongue of kindness, you can drag an elephant by a hair.” 1(Benard, 1991). Benard, B. (1991). Fostering resiliency in kids: Protective factors in the family, school, and community. Portland, OR: Western Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities. (ED 335 781)

This is the first of a five-part series of articles on Radical Resilience and its components. I hope to provide guidance and hope to all those struggling during these untested, unsettling, and unusual times. Every Word Counts Every word in this article title "Radical Resilience: The Art of Thriving in a Fragile World" counts. Radical A fundamental, extreme, or original idea coming from the root word. In short, non-traditional approaches. And yes, these are radical times that require a radical approach, as traditional approaches seem to be less effective. Resilience is one of the greatest tools one can employ to deal with this chaos. Resilience Resilience is the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, or significant stress. Stress can also come when things are great—when you have much on your plate, and it’s positive. Ultimately, resilience is about energy management. I disagree with the dictionary definition. It is NOT bounce back. Humans do not go BACK. You and I are different today than we were a week ago. There is NO going back. You can either stay in one place or move..but there is never any going “back.” The path forward is not always clear, nor is it always linear; most of the time, it is not a quick journey but one that requires you to spend time experiencing, reflecting, and learning along the way. Our efforts will allow us to become artists and develop our own styles, techniques, and mannerisms that help us stay on the path. Art Art is a personal talent that offers a unique perspective on life. It is a conscious use of skill and creative imagination to produce aesthetic objects, experiences, or expressions that communicate ideas, emotions, or stories. That’s why you hear the term “art of living.” You are the artist carving what your life looks like. The more we discover, create, and experience, the more we can thrive. Thriving To thrive is to come alive regardless of the circumstances or environment. It means to grow vigorously, prospering, and flourishing, going beyond mere survival to achieve a state of contentment, well-being, and success. It signifies doing very well, such as thriving as an individual, at home, in business, and in the community. In a fragile world, if we are resilient, we can navigate it. Fragile Fragile refers to things that are easily broken, damaged, or destroyed, often due to being delicate, thin, or weak. It is how many see our world today? How Has Society Changed? This is the start of a five-part series exploring the complex dynamics of living in a world dramatically different from 10 years ago—maybe even 5 years ago! If you compare today with 10 years ago, work is less tied to a physical office and more tied to outcomes, connectivity, and flexibility. If you compare today with 5 years ago, the biggest difference is that hybrid and remote work are now established patterns, even as some employers are pulling people back to part-time work. But that is assuming you work for someone. A Challenged Society of Aging Contractors and Self-Employed The Wall Street Journal recently reported: “Self-employment rates rise dramatically as people age. Nearly 30% of employed people in their 70s work for themselves, almost double the share of self-employed people in their 60s, says Cal Halvorsen, an associate professor of social work at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. That translates into about 1.3 million septuagenarian entrepreneurs.” All the baby boomers who are still working today face the daily chore of keeping up with technological innovations, cultural changes, and a dwindling base of clients, referrers, and general connections. The hardest thing for someone to do is accept change. Today, not only is technology changing, it is being changed by AI, which is creating environments we have never seen before. For this group of people, navigating is like jumping from one ledge to another. One fall, and it's a do-over all over again. A Challenged Workforce With AI, our entire foundation of “what was” is disintegrating before our eyes. An entire office of managers, staffers, and interns could be left in the dark, as AI reformulates their company’s business model. After it reformats, some find themselves unemployed and left with no choice but to become contractors and self-employed. But if it is not done yet, it will keep reformatting over and over, leaving the possibility that someday the office will be run by one person. As AI recycles, everyone is just curious about what is on the other end and left dumbfounded by their new, brave work environment. As AI takes over tasks once enjoyed by individuals and teams of workers, it also takes over responsibility and the pride and joy that accompany it. For both those still gainfully employed and those looking for work, the atmosphere is dire. With unemployment and the cost of living on the rise, many are joining the aging group of contractors and the self-employed, yet facing the same challenges. The Jockeying Younger Workers Most economists expect modest gains in participation among 20–24-year-olds as demographic pressures force employers to compete harder for labor. Teen rates, however, are likely to remain low. Though they have a greater edge over others, as they grew up with a screen planted in front of their face. AI is something they are picking up quickly and adapting to with every recycling. However, with lower pay, fewer rewards and benefits, and less buying power from a paycheck, younger workers face the biggest challenge. They do not have the benefit of remembering better times. They have no idea what it was like to work in a society before 9/11, the Iraq War, the 08’-’09 housing crash, COVID, another war, and a potential recession. We Are All in This Together All three groups are facing their own individual challenges, but each one has its own key to resilience. The Art of Thriving as a Senior Member of Society The older generation has the greatest luxury of having survived other difficult times. I think of myself as a modern elder. Indigenous groups honor elders because they are the conduits of wisdom. For us, the art of thriving is through reflection, experience, and the knowing that all things must pass. There is more to life than what is seen. The Art of Thriving as a Member of the Working Class The middle-aged generations have the most incentives, as they need to continue to provide for their families, keep a roof over their heads, and maintain the attitude of staying young. For them, loss of equity is feared. For them, the art of thriving lies in dedication to family, loyalty to their significant others, love for their children, and community. The Art of Thriving as a Younger Member of Society Again, the younger generation faces the greatest challenge. They literally need to invent themselves in this fragile world. Uncertain of where to go, uncertain of what is ahead, uncertain of how they will survive. They lack everything that the elderly and middle-aged members of society have. No memories, nothing to reflect upon, very little life experience, and few have their own families that depend on them. For them, the art of thriving is to be creative, innovative, a leader, and to invent the future of the world they wish to exist in. Employing Radical Resilience to Help Us Thrive From deep divisions that divide a nation to dramatic changes in everything from climate to technology, we can’t wait to respond to “an event”. I believe we can actively create work-life patterns that generate meaningful relationships, stimulate personal growth and talent, and re-energize body, mind, and spirit across all generations, ideologies, and religions. We are all artists in one form or another. Let’s get creative and explore how we do that! Stay tuned for the next article, next week, same time, same place. Hire or Consult with Eileen Eileen believes in the wisdom of my audience and that her job is to help them reconnect with that wisdom. By using humor, fun, meaningful interaction, up-to-the-minute ideas derived from current business, and by being a solid storyteller and actor of the human experiences we all share, people discover their own wisdom. Contact Eileen Today!

The basket in the hands of artist Rebecca Lolosoli of the Umoja Uaso in Kenya now graces my desktop. Its intricate beaded pattern and bright colors stand in stark opposition to the grim yet hopeful past of the Samburu Kenyan women–among the most marginalized in Kenya. Development has been slow to reach the area and education is not easily accessible. Furthermore, women have a low status in the community and are the last to receive the few resources available. Many women are subject to severe mistreatment by their husbands. Faced with continual abuse, these women opt to leave their husbands. Another example of the discrimination and ill-treatment that Samburu women have faced is the alleged rape of approximately 1400 women during the 1980s and the 1990s by British soldiers from training bases in the area. Many of these women were subsequently shunned by their husbands. The women were left as sole providers for themselves and their children. In 1990, 15 women formed and registered the Umoja Uaso Women’s Group with the then Ministry of Culture. They started by selling beadwork and other goods. After facing threats from men jealous of their success, the members decided to found a women-only village and reside together, thus providing collective security and cooperation. The group also dedicated itself to informing women about their rights, their health, and helps them start income-generating activities. These women have provided a role model for subsequent groups to come together for protection and enterprise. Yes—women supporting other women. It might be a model we need now more than ever in these divided times.

It is Earth Day and I can’t stand by and watch. I’ve had enough. ENOUGH opening the Arctic Refuge to drilling. ENOUGH letting coal plants pump toxic chemicals into our air. ENOUGH ransacking our irreplaceable planet for the financial gain of a few billionaires and Trump family members. My research uncovered the NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council. It combines the power of more than 3 million members and supporters with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other staff to confront the climate crisis, protect wildlife and wild places, and ensure clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. Read what Michael Jasny, NRDC Director of Marine Mammals had to say: "Earth Day has always been about protecting what we can't replace — especially our oceans. But what we're seeing now is different. The administration recently convened the Endangered Species Committee, often called the "God Squad", to override long-standing wildlife protections in the Gulf of Mexico to make way for oil and gas drilling — ultimately threatening sea turtles, manatees, whales, and other vulnerable wildlife with extinction. We're suing to stop them. Because once they start carving out exceptions for Big Oil like this, it's not just one species or one place at risk — it's our natural heritage. And the integrity of our most cherished environmental laws." Read what Jackie Wong, NRDC Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy: "Right now, the clean air we've fought for is under direct threat. In February, the EPA moved to repeal the Endangerment Finding — its own scientific determination that climate pollution endangers our health and our planet. We immediately sued, and we're in court right now defending it. Because if this rollback is allowed to stand, it would undermine the federal government's ability to curb climate pollution and open the door to more unchecked emissions. This Earth Day is about whether we protect people's health or give polluters a free pass." And lastly, Bobby McEnaney, NRDC Director of Land Conservation, says this: Earth Day, to me, is about the places that stay with you long after you've left them. A stunning national park. An old-growth forest. Wild lands where species like polar bears and caribou have long roamed free. The very places the Trump administration is hoping to carve up for profit. We're in court right now challenging the administration's attempt to expand oil and gas drilling in the Arctic — one of the last truly wild places left in the world. But this isn't just about one region. It's about whether our public lands are protected for future generations — or sold off to Big Oil piece by piece. Ok, dear friends. We are on a very different planet from the one on which Earth Day was started in 1970. We all have voices and choices to make to protect our only home.  Becoming informed is a great place to start.  What have you learned? What are you doing to make Earth Day a 365-day of earth keeping? Let’s share our ideas and activities!

John came for dinner and brought me a “plant”.  Not your ordinary plant, mind you, but a big, dried bulb nailed onto a piece of wood. “Don’t touch it or water it,” John warned. “Just set it on the counter and wait.” So, for weeks, this ugly, dried-out brown bulb that looked like a huge potato sat on the counter. I noticed its girth was reducing, but that was it. One day, I saw a small green shoot beginning to peek its head out from the dried covering. I didn’t water it. I didn’t touch it. The bulb was so ugly and certainly must have hated being nailed at the base in the wood. But, within 2 weeks, 3 more stalks appeared. No water. But now gorgeous, healthy green stalks.  And in short order, I had 5 huge red amaryllis flowers!  It seemed like a miracle! When the flowers died, I cut the stalks back and threw the bulbs out. But wait—Bill said, “stop”. He bought the shrunken bulb out of the trash and planted it in the dirt.  Another miracle is happening. I have three new healthy stalks rising in the dirt. Have no idea if we’ll get flowers, but I sure learned some leadership lessons. Regardless of appearance, believe in each individual's possibility. Ragged clothes do not merit disdain but rather internal worth. Pay attention to what the “blub” needs. I would have drowned my bulb in water. Wrong step. Listen. Ask what is needed and then respond. Different strokes for different folks Like the bulb, people are probably not one-act individuals. Just because the “act” is over, doesn’t mean the individual is finished. There’s so much inside of all of us.  I say this out loud to myself. After 45 years in my career, I’ve felt like that dried-up bulb.  Hmmmm. Time to replant in a different soil!  OK, dear readers, I’d love to know your thoughts. Where did you think you were “finished”, only to discover you were so much more than a “one act”? Or perhaps you’re like me: sitting and listening to the next place to bloom?  Maybe you need a nudge or insight from a “gardener”—a coach. If I can help, please let me know.

Nature Offers All the Metaphors We Need Just as nature offers metaphors that can become new products or solutions, using metaphors as a method for team conversation and personal inspiration offers a safe, unique way to deepen conversation and personal insight. Notice more about the tangled burr in a dog’s hair, or the padding on a gecko’s feet, or that slime mold as a model for creating traffic patterns.  These are all examples of innovations drawn from nature. Velcro is the result of a Swiss engineer observing how barbs tangle. (How I wish I had the patent on that!) The padding on a gecko’s feet inspired the creation of self-stick carpet. A single-celled slime mold without a brain is inspiring Cambridge, Massachusetts startup Mireta to rethink how subways, bike lanes, roadways, and other city networks are designed for speed, durability, and adaptability to climate-related challenges.  Biomimicry is at work! I Noticed More During the Facilitation of a Team Meeting Example: I was facilitating a team meeting to explore how the team currently operated and what might make it better.  To open up conversation and invite a free flow of ideas, I made this statement: “This team is like pizza. Tell me why?” After startled looks, members began to jump in—including those who normally were silent.  “We have many different varieties of ‘toppings’ in this team”. “I don’t like thick crust, and our team pizza is too ‘thick’ “We can be easily divided, and the pizza shared." “We operate sometimes like the dough and have to rise to the occasion…”  Each one of these statements invited a deeper look into the personalities and the working relationships within the team. My job as a facilitator was to ask the probing questions. But it was “pizza” that opened the door.  It was the incongruous word “pizza” that stimulated deeper thinking.  But it could have been any common word not connected to the organization or its workings. I Noticed More Taking Over a Controlling, Demanding Leadership Team Another time, I was part of the team called in to take over for a controlling, demanding “leadership team”. Folks were unhappy, demoralized, and ready to leave.  We needed something that could become our emblem of change, that could lighten the feeling of gloom, and that could invite conversation.   The answer: Strawberries. The employees had felt kept in the dark, covered with crap, and unheard.  Strawberries need light and care to flourish. We all wore a strawberry pin. We published the successes of each department through a series of “Strawberry Shorts”.  Laughter became our “fertilizer,” and “weeding out” what kept the team down was important.  The metaphor of “strawberries” provided a visual emblem of what we wanted to achieve.  And we did. How Will You Notice More? SO, how about you?  What question is swirling around in your brain?  There’s a metaphor waiting that, if you ask the right questions and look at it from different angles, you might gain insight.

I just found this in a 2011 file. Amazing how reading “old” words offers insights for resilient living for today’s crazy times. Might have written this 15 years ago, but the whatever muse whispered then is calling to me now. It reads... Insights for Resilient Living Just returned from a week above 10,500 feet: sleeping under the stars and clouds, battling mosquitoes and temps down to 25 degrees at night, plus gorgeous vistas and wildflowers. This year, while I wanted to go, I felt tremendously pressured by the economy and pending work NOT to go. After all, 7 days without cell phone and email.  What if someone needed me? Alas, no one did. Or let me reframe that—people figured out “stuff” on their own.  In the meantime, I figured out “stuff” that might very well help me cope with the current recessionary times: No one should travel alone.  In today’s crazy world, we NEED other people to share the decisions, sights, laughter, and burdens. Who travels with you?  Who has your back when the going gets rough? Don’t push the river.  We crossed many a cold, rushing river this trip.  I am not adept at standing upright and hopping across boulders that fit legs far longer than mine. The very force of the water intimidates me.  But it is what it is.  How often do I want something to be other than what it is?  I push against reality instead of just accepting and leaning into it. Surrender to the now.  How easy it was to suddenly find myself thinking about the work that had to be done when I returned. Every time my mind went there, I mentally pulled myself back. I realized I could do nothing about anything until I returned. NOW was all I could deal with. Great lesson to carry back to the base camp, I call my office. These are my insights for resilient living. Can you share yours?

One particular challenge I often face is facilitating a diverse team of professionals from various backgrounds— healthcare , pharma, education , and even the military —and integrating them into a cohesive unit capable of tackling complex projects with agility and creativity. The solution? Find a path with a future-focused, collaborative approach that celebrates differences while uniting everyone under a common goal. Here's how it's done: 1. Embrace Diversity Recognize that each team member brings unique skills and perspectives. Fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard makes a significant difference. 2. Encourage Open Communication Regular team meetings and open-door policies ensure ideas flow freely. This not only builds trust but also sparks innovative solutions to the challenges the team faces. 3. Focus on Continuous Learning Implement regular training sessions and workshops to encourage team members to share their knowledge and learn from one another. This enhances skills, keeps everyone future-focused, and fosters adaptability. 4. Celebrate Successes Together Whether it's a small win or a major milestone, make it a point to celebrate as a team. This approach strengthens a sense of community and motivates everyone to aim higher. 5. Leverage Technology Use collaborative tools to streamline processes and improve efficiency. These tools enable the team to work smarter, not harder, and stay connected, even when working remotely. By addressing this challenge, you not only enhance the team's performance but also create a work environment that is optimistic and supportive. This experience is a reminder that, with the right mindset and strategies, any challenge can be transformed into an opportunity for growth. Now, I’d love to hear from you! How have you turned challenges into opportunities? Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you found this post insightful, give it a like or share it with your network. Let’s continue to learn and grow together!