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Role Playing: A Practice That Makes Perfect…Sense!
Click to download PDF of this Article
Click to download PDF of this Article
Role Playing: A Practice That Makes Perfect…Sense!
Click to download PDF of this Article
Click to download PDF of this Article
Designing Dialogue
There is a quote that goes something like this: the quality of your conversations is the quality of your life. Few of us wake up in the morning with a clear sense of who we might end up having a conversation with. At least not the agenda free variety. Sure you might be leading a meeting, or gearing up for “that conversation” you wish you didn’t have to have, but beyond that we rarely set out to have rich and meaningful conversations about anything. This, I think, is a real shame and a missed opportunity to add value to our own lives and the lives of others. Statistics tell us that parents spend on average no more than 10 minutes per week-in conversation with their children. And in the work force conversation is being reduced e-mails, text messages and tweets. An unhurried conversations leads to unpredictable discoveries; it facilitates social bonding, and puts people in touch with their own and other peoples’ values, assumptions, ideas and strategies. The fact is we all know when we have had a good conversation because we leave bigger and better for having had it. Perhaps it’s time to take inventory of the quality of your conversations. Are you providing openings for dialogue? Are you giving people your attention? Are you using conversation strategically to boost creativity and innovation? Are you deepening your relationships through sharing and listening?
Six Billion Others
I stumbled upon the most astonishing and ambitious web site i have ever seen. Called Six Billion Others it is the grand work of photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand. In an effort to help the world understand itself he dispatched 5 photographers around the globe to conduct interviews with all sorts of people about big life questions and the result is this interactive website. You can create an account and share your own perspective, you can assist with translation and site maintenance, you can share it with your friends. He also completed a movie that was released for free download called Home that he hopes people will share and use to inspire our collective imagination and commitment to save the planet before its too late. This man is a true champion and should be celebrated for his visionary approach!
Leadership Coach to Globe Trottin’ Mama
Today marks an official, but temporary, departure from all things coach-esque. For the next five weeks I will be on the road as a globe trottin’ mama with my magnificent 13 year old daughter by my side. We’re in it together. Though I have been the one obsessing over the details of our itinerary. As of February 20th we are bound for the Yucatan area of Mexico. Further afield we expect to explore Belize along with one or two cayes, the Peten region of Guatemala, Copan and the coastal area of Honduras, and maybe even Nicaragua….As we make final preparations over the next week I’ll be keeping a little blog journal…stay tuned. And thanks for reading….
Slow It Down, Right Down
The faster you go the farther you get! Nope, not always. In fact, while it might feel like you are getting things done at warp speed, chances are you will have missed most of what happened, lost invaluable reflection and adjustment time, and you’ll be left wondering what happened? why am i so tired? I recently made time for the “mat”, yoga mat that is. The minute i walked into the studio with its tranquil music i felt a sense of relief. I was slowing down. Intentionally. The “mat” can come in many forms, ultimately it is a decision to enter into a state of being rather than doing, and there are many ways to do that. I am looking to make my mat a bigger part of my life and already this week, having joined two yoga classes and one nia class, i am feeling more grounded and appreciative. So in an effort to get us all to slow down, right down here is a list of resources/ideas that might just help you do the same.
1. Join the slow food movement (have you ever heard of eco-gastronomy?).
2. Take a class: Nia, Yoga, Painting, Dance…(call a friend and take them, too).
3. Walk in nature at least once a week (years ago i coined the term non-specific urbanitis, then along came Richard Louv).
4. Turn off the TV (it is not reality!).
5. Meditate (even for five minutes)
6. Stay in bed all day (seriously, with your favorite book or special someone).
7. Wear comfortable shoes (how else will you enjoy taking your time between here and there? and it prevents cancer too!).
8. Get hot (sauna, bath, beach).
9. Don’t drive so fast!(it’s dangerous).
10. Eliminate or moderate your caffeine (pop, coffee, black tea).
And finally make time to reflect on your life, define your intentions, and adjust your course to maximize the quality of your life.