What’s the backstory and how will you uncover it

Many a meeting or workshop happens because we want to gather ideas from people, or ‘bring them along’ as a group or team. 

And each meeting presents ideal opportunities to connect, engage and share stories. 

But some meetings don’t allow even a few minutes here and there to listen and learn from people’s experiences. 

It’s such a shame we might push on with progress and not value this experience. 

If you’re feeling a disconnect or distance in your team or group, be sure to build in and allow time for sharing stories. 

It’s how we make sense of what’s going on. 

Invest some time:
- at the start of meetings
- between agenda items
- returning from breaks
... to hear from people. 

Give more time to understand a backstory or personal perspective. 

It can help inform what happens next. 

Fresh skills we want to learn

How does a team adapt in an environment of change like the world is experiencing now? 

What skills do leaders need to better lead in these times?

Remote work, extreme uncertainty and ongoing complex change are impacting so many sectors and organisations. 

Old learning topics like body language, negotiation skills and time management are being overtaken by more contemporary, practical and inspiring skills. 

These skills are more related to today’s workplace and aligned to the capabilities people need to be able to work better together. 

Plus they’re the kinds of skills people want to learn!

They are: 
Ingenuity 
Empathy
Creativity 
Curiosity 

Facilitation 
Visualization 
Experimentation 
Improvisation 

Sensemaking
Listening
Learning
Collaborating.


These kinds of skills help us stay relevant and motivated in the learning ... as well as the daily application. 

Naming the struggle

While guiding a group with mentoring advice recently, the most common statement in their questions and sentences was, ‘I’m struggling with…'

Learning, growing, changing and adapting is indeed a struggle. 

And it’s being magnified further in these times! 

Struggling - in less violent terms - is about doing one’s best, but I wonder, what is it that we are doing in struggling?

Are we :
- Getting used to ...
- Annoyed or frustrated with ...
- Trying to understand ...
- Debating or weighing up...
- Confused about ...
- Taking longer than we expected?

All of these situations could indeed be a struggle. And I wonder if that feeing of ‘I’m struggling with…’ is worth redefining or renaming, rather than bundling it all up as struggling. 

Acknowledge it is a struggle. Yes. 

And then explore what else it is: whether it’s a frustration, an obstacle, a question, or just another a step along a path of change. 

Perhaps it’s more challenging than we’d liked, hoped or expected. 

Making sense in healthcare

As health services the world over have adapted and responded to the impacts of a pandemic, they have been Sensemaking. 

On one day they had a level of knowledge or understanding ... and then new facts, results or data came to light. This changes their perspective and in turn influences their next responses and actions. 

While changing situations might annoy some people, the role of change and Sensemaking in the health sector is vitally important. 

As health services respond, they observe, monitor and track to make sense of what’s going on. 

No system is perfect or faultless. 

They observe and understand what is happening ... and we can too, in our industries and sectors. 

What about you : What actions are you taking? 
What is happening as a result of your actions? 

We make sense as new information comes to light. 

🙏🏻Here’s a ‘thank you’ to healthcare workers the world over. 

‘Does that make sense?’

We ask this question when we’re thinking, talking, meeting, training, and presenting. 

It’s to check with ourselves - am I making sense to myself? 

And then ... am I making sense to you? 

It’s kind of asking, ‘Do you get it?’

We use the phrase ‘making sense' habitually and unconsciously. It’s a human thing. 

We develop our natural Sensemaking abilities as we learn and grow up. 

But given the changing and uncertain world we live in, being able to build and accelerate our Sensemaking capabilities means we can get to decisions sooner. 

And then take action sooner, despite the uncertainty. 

When you hesitate and procrastinated it could be because things aren’t making sense. We may keep plodding along waiting until they do. 

But if we use some Sensemaking tools and techniques, we can move on from indecision and hesitation... to action. 

It’s quite empowering and momentum building! 

Listen out for ‘does that make sense?’ It’s a sign we are most certainly in Sensemaking mode for ourselves ... and others.