Paths to Possibilities - Day 30

Day 30

30 equals the total number of major and minor keys in Western tonal music.
It is also the number of uprights that formed the Sarcen Circle at Stonehenge.
Recent research suggests that the inner Bluestones ring probably had acoustic properties,
which might explain their being transported 320 km by Stonehenge's makers.

Today's piece is by Phil Willcox, the impassioned founder and Managing Director of e3ctc, a consultancy based in Lincoln, UK, which specialises in training and coaching to enable individuals and organisations to learn and develop. He is interested in authenticity and science-based emotional intelligence and the impact that they have on good leadership and the motivation of teams. Phil is a regular voice on Twitter (his handle is @PhilWillcox) and he is a good fellow to spend an evening with, putting the world to rights. A devoted husband and father, Phil enjoys helping and supporting others (both in and out of work) to thrive and grow.

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This is my favourite TED talk ever. 

http://youtu.be/0snNB1yS3IE

Why? It's the only TED talk that I've come across that gets a standing ovation at the start and at the end. More so though, it is about the meaning I find in it. It speaks to me because I have daughters, I like poetry, in the journey that Sarah has been through I find similarity to my own. I could go on and will choose to stop for now, as the importance will come back later.

One of the things I hold incredibly dear and share as much as possible is my view on the value of reflective practice. Over this year I have developed that to be 'reflective purposeful practice' as it is something that I think needs to be done both on and for a purpose. Let me be clear, thinking about or reflecting on stuff is massively useful and important. Even more though, doing this:

On purpose - which means you choose to do so and to do so regularly

For a purpose - which means you are doing it to learn, change, replicate, repeat or for a reason that you will act upon in the future. 

Purposeful reflection!
Car wing mirror with in-built LED indicator

I often meet people that say 'I don't know' and that reminds me of a line from one of my favourite film series 'The Matrix' where a character called 'The Oracle' is talking with 'Neo' (played by Keanu Reeves), here's the transcript:

Oracle: You have the sight now, Neo. You are looking at the world without time.

Neo: Then why can't I see what happens to her?

Oracle: We can never see past the choices we don't understand. 

Neo: Are you saying I have to choose whether Trinity lives or dies?

Oracle: No. You've already made the choice, now you have to understand it.

Neo: No, I can't do that. I won't.

Oracle: You have to.

Neo: Why?

Oracle: Because you're The One.

Neo: What if I can't? What happens if I fail?

Oracle: Then Zion will fall.

I realise that I am running the risk of losing you in film quotes and stick with me, it works out.

As humans we find meaning everywhere. It is the reason we misunderstand each other, why two people can see, hear, smell, taste the same thing(s) and get wholly different meanings, impressions, experiences and conclusions. It is something called 'relevance theory' and means that we will experience something through the senses and find the meaning or explanation that best fits what we know, want, think or feel about it. 

Do you see a human face or a girl hurrying across the cobbles?
What you see may be influenced by your current mood and past experiences

Let's play with that for a moment. Do I (or you) believe in fate or are we in control of our destiny?

For me, I prefer yellow bananas to black bananas.

Right now you are or already have searched to find what that means. Am I likening fate to yellow or black bananas? Or am I saying that I don't believe either and I'd prefer the idea of control over fate? In reality, it's a statement of seven words that I stole from someone and put into this blog. That's it. 

And.....

You will have looked for or more likely found meaning in those seven words.

When it comes to the paths we follow or we choose or how we perceive the world, those around us or the choices we (may) make, relevance theory is a massive part of it.

One of my favourite discoveries this year has been the 'Street Wisdom' movement. (I do also notice the links here between 'street' and 'path' and that is good old relevance theory in action.) There are a few things about Street Wisdom that I really love:

• How it uses resources that you always have available to you (yourself and the street)
• The impact it has for people (I'll share mine soon and here's some blogs others have written about their experiences), namely Helen Amery's and Emma Browes'

If you want to know more about Street Wisdom, click here.

The reason I'm sharing though, is because, as an approach, it does a brilliant job of helping you see options and paths that you may not normally appreciate. 

When I experienced my quest in Sheffield I was shifted. The path I was on remained but how I saw it shifted. It moved from a path that was overgrown, contained stinging nettles and brambles, was uneven underfoot and a path that I was nervous and unsure to tread. 

My view on it shifted to be a path that became crystal clear, free from obstruction and one that I actively wanted to skip, run and sprint down.

What happened? I found an answer to a question that I had been grappling with for over two years. Yes, two years. I'd been carrying a question with me that I could not answer for over 700 days. Each time that question raised itself I'd be flooded with emotion(s), doubts, fears, frustrations, joy and couldn't reconcile them all away. Then, the answer came and it all went away.

I felt free.

It was amazing.

Insight found on the streets of Sheffield
Church Street, Sheffield

I will be forever grateful to the streets of Sheffield and those people and objects that shared my path that day.

As humans we are what I call 'lazy thinkers', we make assumptions and take mental shortcuts. We want people or things to fit with what we have experienced or what we expect, because it is cognitively easier for us. We don't have to think as much, or as hard, to predict what will happen or occur. That is why (as I said earlier) we misunderstand each other. I think a reason we say 'I don't know' is I think there's a good chance you do know, you just haven't allowed yourself to see it as an option or possibility before.

Finding enlightenment.
"First Light, Sunrise over Sheffield", Actylic, 2008 by Mark H Wilson 

You may think I am trying to say you need to visit unfamiliar surroundings to create a shift and I don't think that is true. I've been to Sheffield many times before and that day, but I looked at it differently. So differently it changed my life.

I started this blog talking about poetry, reflection and those I meet that say 'I don't know'. Then I've linked that to the Matrix, as I wonder if you really do know and just aren't seeing past a choice you don't understand or want to face. Then I've talked about relevance theory and how I think this links with choices as, when we open up our minds to other possibilities and meanings, we see new things and paths which may allow us to understand or face a choice. Our challenge, as I see it, we don't allow ourselves (consciously or unconsciously) the chance to open up.

Open up, see the path, shift the perception, have more choice.

Vietnam War Memorial, by American artist and architect Maya Lin in 1989,
when designing it she stated that she wanted to create something that a person could
"relate to as on a journey or passage, that would bring each to his own conclusions"

Merry Christmas (we are still within The 12 Days) and Happy New Year.

Thank you to the wonderful Kate Griffiths-Lambeth for curating this series.

Don’t Get Stuck, Take a Walk! - Day 21

Day 21

21 - the total number of spots on a standard die

Photo depicts dice from ancient Pompeii - same design as now

Dice are the oldest gaming implements known to man.

Originally people used knucklebones (even today the Arabic for knucklebone is the same as die)

Ed Griffin, HR leader, recognised expert, progressive thinker, acclaimed author, inspirational speaker and all-round great guy is the writer of today's post. I first met Ed when he was a leading academic, specialising in strategic HR at Roffey Park. He was one of the few who has tried to rub off some of my very rough edges and taught me how to achieve results within the corporate world. We have remained friends and, over the years, have seen each other's lives change and careers progress. Reading Ed's post I think I should introduce him to the founders of Street Wisdom. Ed is not very active of Twitter, but you can follow him via @EdjGriffin. I know that he has a very exciting year ahead.

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When Kate told me the theme of this year’s Advent Blogs was Paths & Perceptions, I was immediately interested and particularly drawn to writing something about “paths”. “Paths” prompted two responses in me; one was to think of the the metaphors that paths represent, the other was the simple pleasure of walking. Paths have a particular allure for me - a feeling of setting out on an adventure or being set free. I also realise that paths are a frequent themes in the photos I take. In this short piece I’ve decided to be greedy and explore both the metaphorical and literal meanings for me of Paths.

I was lucky to have a father who introduced me to the countryside at an early age and, with it, a sense of adventure in going walking. By the time I reached university, we would go off to walk in the Lake District and elsewhere. Part of the joy was the anticipation that came from pouring over a map looking for an interesting and challenging route. When it came to the actual walk, our choice of route could often change because of the weather, our way-finding skills or another path simply seemed more appealing. There was nothing quite like following a path that you could see and disappearing into low cloud and the uncertainty of what was to follow. And then at the end of a good day’s walking, winding up in a warm pub with aching legs - perfect! Thanks to his influence I am now someone for whom a path offers opportunities and freedom. Following a path can be both about having found your way but also about losing yourself - paths offers choices and you don’t always know where they will lead you.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost, The Road not Taken.

In his book, The Songlines, Bruce Chatwin described the idea that when you’re walking you can’t have problems - that really resonated with me and I’ve been struck many times that after going for a walk I’ve been able to solve a problem or make better sense of a difficult situation. When walking outside we literally have our horizon broadened and we get a new perspective.

I noticed that when my father developed Alzheimers and was losing the ability to cope with once familiar tasks, one thing that gave him pleasure and focus was to go on a walk. As long as he could see the path he would keep going - perhaps there were neural pathways that stayed healthy whilst others hardened and died.

In organisations people often get bogged down and can’t seem to find a way out of a situation. At the same time organisational cultures often often leaves employees inhibited in breaking out of the mould and doing something different that could deliver a better outcome. When we’re stuck in some way, it’s often time to find a new path to follow. There’s a lot to be said for the benefits of taking a walk when you’re at work. John Medina in his book “Brain Rules” talks about our brains being designed for walking and suggests that businesses should think about the design of the workspace to encourage employees to walk.  A good friend, Anthony Baring, who is FD of a consultancy business, takes people out in London for walking meetings - that feels like a path of possibilities and unexpected turns. I think we risk losing the confidence to step out on new paths - we all have a smartphone with apps to show us the way. Sharing the path with someone else can create a sense of a shared journey and the possibility of a more human relationship.

I believe that we need to get lost every now and again to truly find ourselves - perhaps if you have that family tradition of a Christmas walk, this year it may be time to try a different path.

Christmas Walk
© Copyright Andrew Curtis and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Giant Steps

On Sunday morning, just before dawn, the three enormous cooling towers of Didcot A Power Station were demolished. My attitude towards this event epitomises most people’s reaction to change – I am slightly uncomfortable: I feel nostalgic for the train journeys I took when a student, travelling across the English countryside to visit my mother – Didcot’s three solid chimneys, like giant empty cotton reels, were a signal to me that I was nearing home and that soon I would be sharing a good meal with people I loved; however; I also care about the environment - Didcot has to be destroyed to comply with the European Industrial Emissions Directive, which takes effect as of January 2016. Being a forty-something-year-old coal-fired power station, Didcot produced significant emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, prior to being decommissioned last year. We now have a better understanding of the damage that burning fossil fuels can have on our existence and have begun to take suitable measures to alleviate the problem.

People are often slow at taking actions to effect desired change, but appropriate responses do not have to be as dramatic as blowing something up. Evolution, based on knowledge and understanding, can often prove more effective than revolution (and less destabilising). Take, for example, Susan Butcher, a veterinarian’s assistant who was aware that top athletes, weightlifters and pianists all have daily training and performance schedules in which they push themselves for up to four hours and then rest. Susan Butcher is a top dog sled competitor and was keen to compete in the Iditarod race, which takes over a week complete across 1,000 miles of challenging Arctic ice. Traditionally competitors race for a day and sleep at night, or are nocturnal and rest-up during the day. Susan Butcher chose to deviate slightly from convention, and treat her dogs as top athletes, letting them run for four to six hour stretches before resting for a similar period. Her understanding, of how a physical body best performs paid off – she and her dogs have now won the race four times and other competitors have changed the manner in which they participate.

The evolution of work over the past couple of centuries is full of examples of times when the ways of doing things have been enhanced and evolved, as well as notable periods of significant change. We have progressed through clear stages, from being:

·    Artisans - who would create a product, as required – often a cumbersome and time-consuming act that is not conducive to scalable mass production

A shoemaker's tools

To

·      Industrialists who, via the mechanisation of repetitive processes, on a production line, could replicate an object fairly swiftly – but the lack of adaptability forces customers to accept what is offered

Workers on a flywheel assembly line
at the Ford Motor Company's Highland Park, Mich., plant in 1913

To

·  Technicians who, through the use of information technology and tailored production (such as 3D printing) can amend a basic offering, so that it seems personal - this approach relies on speed and the ability of scientists and entrepreneurs to adapt existing systems to create a unique or amended product – although it enables a degree of customisation, as yet few products that are available to the masses are truly bespoke

3D printing

To

·  Digital Natives, who are beginning to flex their muscles in the workplace increasingly individuals are choosing to be self-employed and technology, in the right hands, is enabling bespoke, cost-effective production – but the current environment is so complex that it can be hard for a potential customer to locate their best provider for a desired product, or indeed for a producer to locate a suitable customer base.

As our world changes, we now need people with wisdom who can understand what is required and provide or locate a solution.

"Wisdom is the principal thing:Therefore get wisdom:And with all thy getting Get understanding."
         Proverbs 4:7

On Thursday I teamed up with a collection of people, all interested in the changes that are occurring (and those which need to occur) in the workplace - not just the physical environment but also the manner in which individuals choose to and are expected to work, as well as the workers themselves. The meeting was part of the Beyond the Workplace conversation (#BtWC) – a UK-originated initiative supported, in part, through collaboration between the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Given that we wished to understand and find answers, it was appropriate that we commenced the session with a Street Wisdom session (you can read my thoughts on Street Wisdom here). Over 50 people participated, drawn from all walks of life, ages and demographics. We started by seeking an answer to a personal question and, having begun to think in a more open-minded and creative fashion, we moved on to contemplate the future of work and what could or might need to change. Many ideas surfaced including:

•  A desire to give people what they deserve and to create work places where they can be their best selves and achieve their best outcomes;
• The power of technology to drive change;
• People, places and processes – how we need to move away from antiquated approaches and attitudes;
• Personal needs vs. impersonal environments;
• The importance of trust;
• How many people are better equipped at home than they are at work and hence many employees now work “outside the system” using smart phones and personal tablets;
• Ebbs and flows - including the decline of patriarchal/dictatorial organisations and the rise of ones where there is cross-divisional collaboration and a lack of secrecy;
• Localised, usually technology-enabled, decision making;
• The frustrations of email versus the need for effective communication across distances and teams;
• The horrors of unproductive meetings and dull, uninspiring workspaces;
• How people work better and are often happier when they can move and mingle;
• The rise of contract employment and outsourcing, with the resultant reduction of traditional workforce dynamics;
• The power of the self-employed;
• The pros and cons of hot-desking;
• The breakdown of barriers; and
• Numerous questions such as “Are coffee shops the new offices?” and “Do generational attitudes matter?

People are beginning to share their experiences of the event, you might enjoy this post by Ian Ellison or this one by Perry Timms. Both blogs express the frustrations of people seeking understanding and appreciating the power of having a sense of place. Nobody has the solutions (yet) but the debate has started. There will be other #BtWC sessions soon, in Sheffield, Brighton and Edinburgh. I urge you to attend if you can. None of us in isolation has all the answers, but, perhaps, between us we can stimulate debate to articulate and encourage a better future. Thinking is evolving…

As Mark Twain once wrote:

“Evolution is a blind giant who rolls a snowball down a hill. The ball is made of flakes—circumstances. They contribute to the mass without knowing it. They adhere without intention, and without foreseeing what is to result. When they see the result they marvel at the monster ball and wonder how the contriving of it came to be originally thought out and planned. Whereas there was no such planning, there was only a law: the ball once started, all the circumstances that happened to lie in its path would help to build it, in spite of themselves.” 

Last week, many marvelled at the arrival in Liverpool of three giants – a grandmother, her granddaughter and a dog – an extraordinary piece of street theatre. They were part of a commemorative spectacular, recognising the centenary since the start of the First World War. The event, produced in collaboration between Liverpool City Council and Royal de Luxe, the astounding French creative troupe founded in 1979 by the inspirational Jean-Luc Courcoult, was intended to commemorate the Liverpool Pals – the City’s heroic battalions recruited by Lord Derby in response to Lord Kitchener’s appeal for volunteers to fight in the war. (Of the 5,000 men who joined the Pals, 2,800 died.) Over a four-day period the giants slept, walked, played and enchanted the people who saw them. Their departure ended with a shower of Your Country Needs You postcards, scattered over the crowd.

Metaphorically, I am doing the same, inviting you to join us and contribute towards the Beyond The Workplace Conversation. Please add your voice, you might be the one to make the much-needed giant step that will change the world of work…