Currently I am helping an organization develop an internal leadership manual that details culture around the processes and practices in the organization. We look at how to resolve conflict, make decisions, deal with information sharing, and more.
We recently hired a consultant to assist us with improving equity in the organization. During our meeting today asked if they could join in on our next staff retreat to observe our conversations around our leadership manual development. Our tiny staff has been working together now for several months and built a stronger sense of trust–and as a result–honesty through that process.
I was hesitant and tried to vocalize my concern that I didn’t want to create a situation where we were inserting a ‘stranger’ into the process midway (our 3rd out of 5 staff retreats)–and that this could possibly result in a backslide and close down the openness and candor I’ve been able to cultivate.
She understood immediately and said that she agreed after further dialogue, citing the Hawthorn Effect.
Why trust? The simple, often overlooked fact is this: work gets done with and through people. The Speed of Trust offers an unprecedented and eminently practical look at exactly how trust functions in every transaction and every relationship—from the most personal to the broadest, most indirect interaction. It specifically demonstrates how to establish trust intentionally so that you and your organization can forego the time-killing, bureaucratic check-and-balance processes that is so often deployed in lieu of actual trust.
June 28 – July 2 Every week I create a round-up of my favorite reads and listens over the last 7 days. Some links go directly to articles and books, others go to my post with notes.
This week was pretty slow in terms of recreational reading, as I ended up overloaded with work ahead of vacation. I also started a 8-week ceramics course at Kirklands Arts Center, as well as signed up for a landscape painting class with Justin Donaldson, one of my favorite painters!
Millers imaginative telling of the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles was certainly an interesting and enjoyable read. Set from the perspective of Patroclus, it fills in details of their meeting, their time and love together during the Trojan war, and even the period post-death (from a strange ghost-like viewpoint). Stripped away, it is a young adult romance novel, so I don’t hold it to high literary expectations. The characters feel flat and one dimensional, and, as Mendelsohn describes, seems to be confused with finding tone and pace. Yet, despite being ‘fast food fiction’ it was still a fun, quick read that was a much welcomed distraction during a week of commuting.
Whenever my partner and I have communication mishaps, I like to dig around and do some refresher reading on communication and conflict resolution techniques. My all time favorite book still stands to be Couple Skills by McKay, which I would rank in my top 10 most personally significant reads. Many of the tools I learned there appear again and again in other reads. Being reminded of reactive behaviors, communication traps, and emotional triggers helps me show up more fully and compassionately in my partnership. While neither of these books are stand outs, they were very quick reads with some good worksheets and tools.
As I jumped into my intro to wheel throwing class this week, I was on a huge ceramic content-consumption kick. I watched tons of youtube videos, instagram posts, articles, and books as I oriented myself to a new art medium. There is something really addictive about watching people create 3D works of art–whether miniature models, sculptures, jewelry, or pottery. Over the last year I’ve picked up miniature sculpture work with polymer clay, creating fantastical gardens.
However, the skillsets involved in ceramics is vastly larger. With tons of different clays, tools, glazes, and processes to pick from and learn, it is so easy to see how this becomes a lifelong practice of iteration. My architectural senses are prickling. I’ve already told my partner that a pottery wheel and mini kiln might be on my wish list now–as well as the need for at-home studio space! (Ah the dream).
I also have a ever growing list of ceramics projects, inspired by artists by Courtney Mattison and Stephanie Kilgast, stewing around my brain. Of course the usual practical pottery items like dishes and cups, but also the more creative and decorative including sculptural landscapes and textures that invoke nature–forest, desert, sea, sky.
Is your organization working on how it can be more inclusive? One of the many ways you can do that is through the messaging and content you produce. Words matter. These Language guides provide instruction for respect and dignity, while steering clear of prejudice and stereotypes.
