If you are like me you’re never far from a high tech device that keeps you connected with family, friends, customers, and the wider world. My favorite tech toy is the iPhone 4G and it seamlessly delivers my mobile phone service, e-mail applications, text messages, internet access, and a host of other games and services. Except for those dead spots in my AT&T network (too many I’m afraid) I remain tethered to my office no matter the day of the week or time of day.
Yes, I said “tethered” to my work. Just a few short years ago I could leave my office and my calendar, messages, customer list, and many other details remained behind. Now those names, phone numbers, and files travel with me digitally compressed into a tiny package of gleaming metal and glass secured on my belt. Initially this unfettered access gave me a sense of power and purpose. I was in control of my work and personal worlds in a whole new way. Or was I?
Studies indicate that many corporate-level leaders and office workers can receive as many as 200 e-mails per day and are interrupted by these messages 11 times every hour. Add to this mix the use of social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter (with their mobile applications) and these statistics would likely be even higher. How does anyone under these circumstances get quality work done?
I confess that in recent months my own use of social media has been sharply curtailed as I try to find some balance between high tech and high touch. Is having thousands of virtual friends all clamoring for my attention really worth it? Why is it so hard for a colleague to walk down the hall and ask me their question instead of sending the inevitable vague message that requires me to nuance its meaning? Is it really a good idea to manage your first line of customer service with an automated voice mail attendant instead of a live person?
It takes discipline to move toward high touch. I struggle to only read and respond to e-mails about three times per day. Sometimes I lack the energy or courage to pick up the phone or schedule a face-to-face meeting. Yet I also know when I hear a client’s voice or look in their eyes during our conversation I can understand more clearly what is really happening in their lives. Our human spirits long for quality interactions and today’s emphasis on efficiency over effectiveness is taking a toll. It’s a trend that, left uninterrupted, could leave us lazy, lonely, and illiterate.
This weekend I attended a conference where the emphasis was on creating friendships with persons who have disabilities. I was struck by the many stories of how human interaction makes a tangible difference in the lives of both caregivers and their disabled clients. I discovered the importance of welcoming, accepting, and encouraging every member of God’s creation—to see myself and that disabled person as equal in God’s sight.
Our willingness as leaders to model effective listening skills, and practice empathy will go much further in building quality relationships than simply being accessible in a 24-hour digital world. It’s time to make a commitment toward high touch and reduce our addiction to high tech. We need greater engagement in the lives of those we serve—employees and customers—especially in these challenging times. Are you willing to mute your mouse with me? We might even save money on cheese.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Angels in My Path
This past week I was reminded of the selfless service of “angels in my path”, friends who took time out of their busy schedules to spend an evening brainstorming and meditating with me about my future. They came without expectation, open to whatever the Spirit might bring. Our time together was bathed in love and care. A variety of poems invited us to gaze deeply into our souls calling us to consider opportunities instead of obstacles, to ponder possibilities in the midst of pain.
As we wrote our thoughts in response to the poetry some of the messages were offered as gifts for me to consider while others became personal reflections. Prior to the evening I had chosen a poem titled, “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer as one we would use in these meditation exercises. You can read the poem by following this link: http://skdesigns.com/internet/articles/prose/oriah_mountain_dreamer/invitation/
Four questions came to me after reading and reflecting on the poet’s message.
Later that week I received a handwritten letter from a friend I have been coaching through a time of transition. Her note shared the good news that a new opportunity has emerged and she has accepted the challenge. Before I could fully absorb the impact of her decision, she shared that I was one of the “angels in her path” who gave her the courage to follow her heart. All the emotion of a stressful week was released as I realized how special this message was in the context of my own journey. Thanks to the “angels in my path” this week and throughout my life. I hope you notice and appreciate the “angels in your path” as well.
“When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” Audre Lorde
As we wrote our thoughts in response to the poetry some of the messages were offered as gifts for me to consider while others became personal reflections. Prior to the evening I had chosen a poem titled, “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer as one we would use in these meditation exercises. You can read the poem by following this link: http://skdesigns.com/internet/articles/prose/oriah_mountain_dreamer/invitation/
Four questions came to me after reading and reflecting on the poet’s message.
- Why am I so focused on trying to hide, fade, or fix my pain?
- Who needs me to stand with them in the center of the fire? (Like my friends did for me.)
- Why can’t I express joy without being careful? Is it because I don’t know joy or because I’m just too careful?
- Can I shout “yes” to all this past year’s failures?
Later that week I received a handwritten letter from a friend I have been coaching through a time of transition. Her note shared the good news that a new opportunity has emerged and she has accepted the challenge. Before I could fully absorb the impact of her decision, she shared that I was one of the “angels in her path” who gave her the courage to follow her heart. All the emotion of a stressful week was released as I realized how special this message was in the context of my own journey. Thanks to the “angels in my path” this week and throughout my life. I hope you notice and appreciate the “angels in your path” as well.
“When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” Audre Lorde
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Finding Focus
If you read my blog with any regularity then you already know about my recent stressful personal and business journey. The reaction to my postings have been very supportive and I have been somewhat surprised by the number of readers that have resonated with my plight and offered personal words of encouragement and hope. While I’m still in the throes of a painful, and sometimes lonely, struggle my experience has been reminding me of an important step toward healing - the power of finding one’s focus.
I’m not a musician but have often wondered what might happen if members of an orchestra failed to focus their attention and musical energies toward the conductor. It can’t be easy leading a group of gifted persons to express the sheet music in front of them with one voice and vision. There must be lots of distractions for each individual musician as they hear the cacophony of sounds around them, from instruments large and small. Keeping one’s eyes on the conductor is the difference between average musical results and an unforgettable performance.
When I am struggling with stressful situations it is hard to stay focused. Competing projects and deadlines all seem to require immediate attention. There is little room for personal rest and relaxation. Simple items like routine emails or rote tasks become major distractions. Sometimes it’s hard to even get started or motivated in the morning.
This past week in one of my class settings I shared my destiny, character, and calling statements with the group to illustrate how inspirational leadership grows out of this clear sense of purpose. I realized anew how important these three expressions are in my life - they are my focus point, my North Star. Perhaps one reason I have felt stressed and lost is because I have allowed distractions to take my eye off my Conductor, God. As His creation, I am deeply loved and celebrated. My destiny statement which reads “to create a sustainable community of inspirational leaders” is no accident, it is the purpose God has for my life. It is up to me to stay focused on this purpose and then get out of the way as God does His work in my life.
As I prepare for what will be a very busy week, I am grateful for the reminder I received to regain my focus. It’s obvious during the past couple of months I have allowed the challenges of business to take my eyes off the Conductor. Impatience with myself and the results I have been achieving have tempted me to “play my own tune and follow my own beat” when I should have been paying attention to the sure, steady rhythm of God’s baton. Perhaps you can relate to this same loss of focus. If your story mirrors mine I invite to you find your focus and dramatically alter the quality of the music you will make this coming week. I think I hear a “bravo” in our future.
I’m not a musician but have often wondered what might happen if members of an orchestra failed to focus their attention and musical energies toward the conductor. It can’t be easy leading a group of gifted persons to express the sheet music in front of them with one voice and vision. There must be lots of distractions for each individual musician as they hear the cacophony of sounds around them, from instruments large and small. Keeping one’s eyes on the conductor is the difference between average musical results and an unforgettable performance.
When I am struggling with stressful situations it is hard to stay focused. Competing projects and deadlines all seem to require immediate attention. There is little room for personal rest and relaxation. Simple items like routine emails or rote tasks become major distractions. Sometimes it’s hard to even get started or motivated in the morning.
This past week in one of my class settings I shared my destiny, character, and calling statements with the group to illustrate how inspirational leadership grows out of this clear sense of purpose. I realized anew how important these three expressions are in my life - they are my focus point, my North Star. Perhaps one reason I have felt stressed and lost is because I have allowed distractions to take my eye off my Conductor, God. As His creation, I am deeply loved and celebrated. My destiny statement which reads “to create a sustainable community of inspirational leaders” is no accident, it is the purpose God has for my life. It is up to me to stay focused on this purpose and then get out of the way as God does His work in my life.
As I prepare for what will be a very busy week, I am grateful for the reminder I received to regain my focus. It’s obvious during the past couple of months I have allowed the challenges of business to take my eyes off the Conductor. Impatience with myself and the results I have been achieving have tempted me to “play my own tune and follow my own beat” when I should have been paying attention to the sure, steady rhythm of God’s baton. Perhaps you can relate to this same loss of focus. If your story mirrors mine I invite to you find your focus and dramatically alter the quality of the music you will make this coming week. I think I hear a “bravo” in our future.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Renaissance Reflections
On this Labor Day weekend our family took a trip back in time when we visited the realm of King George and Queen Catherine at the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival near the town of West Newton, Pennsylvania. These annual excursions into the cultural periods of the 14th to 17th centuries are now commonplace in many metropolitan areas of our country. Costumed characters roam the grounds. Entertainers of all types from musicians to acrobats provide unlimited merriment for the 21st century visitors. An array of festival foods like fried turkey drumsticks, bratwurst, and beer delight the palate. Conversations typically include a smattering of Shakespearian English.
This particular festival was held on a glorious sunny September Saturday and the crowd soon swelled to a number that left the “portable privies” hopelessly outnumbered. The chivalrous knights and their steeds played to a packed house as they sought to outwit each other with equestrian skills and more verbal than combat jousting. The washing well wenches succeeded in their quest of drenching the audience while embarrassing a few brave fellows along the way. A brother-sister act provided funny feats of acrobatics and a vaudeville-style juggler delighted the crowd with his skills while Daisy and Rocket (his two dogs) stole the show.
A Renaissance Faire is certainly affordable and fun family entertainment (well there are those wenches that might be rated as PN - Pretty Naughty). That’s not why I chose to offer a few reflections about our experience. The baffling aspect of these events is found in the numbers of visitors who show up dressed in period costumes totally committed to the life and times of the late Middle Ages. They seem excited to place themselves in a different era, where monarchies ruled and feudalism drew distinct boundaries between a privileged few and the rest of serfdom. The sight of so many adults and children regaled in medieval attire can be a bit disconcerting. Within minutes of our entry into the “kingdom” we were surprised to hear our name called by someone dressed as a nobleman, sporting a dapper black eye patch. It turned out to be my son’s comic book dealer. And so it goes.
Perhaps those who visit the faire in medieval garb are simply trying to make the most of their themed surroundings. Some may secretly wish for a life that seems more carefree and fun. Others might aspire to greater deeds of courage and bravery, like the knights who joust for queen and country in the arena. A few are probably secretly wishing this imaginary world still existed. I’m not going to judge anyone’s motives or question their right to have a good time.
However, it does seem a bit ironic that we remain so fascinated with a period of history when enlightened thought produced mostly cruel tyranny. I doubt if any of us would have enjoyed living under the oppressive monarchies or feudal system that governed society in those days. If there is a lesson to be learned from our trip to the renaissance faire it is that playing king and queen for a day is harmless. Immersing oneself in an entertaining depiction of some past era is a feast for our senses and a brief respite from the stress of modern society. It is also a reminder that our way of life and system of governance is unique and to be cherished. Fair thee well, then!
This particular festival was held on a glorious sunny September Saturday and the crowd soon swelled to a number that left the “portable privies” hopelessly outnumbered. The chivalrous knights and their steeds played to a packed house as they sought to outwit each other with equestrian skills and more verbal than combat jousting. The washing well wenches succeeded in their quest of drenching the audience while embarrassing a few brave fellows along the way. A brother-sister act provided funny feats of acrobatics and a vaudeville-style juggler delighted the crowd with his skills while Daisy and Rocket (his two dogs) stole the show.
A Renaissance Faire is certainly affordable and fun family entertainment (well there are those wenches that might be rated as PN - Pretty Naughty). That’s not why I chose to offer a few reflections about our experience. The baffling aspect of these events is found in the numbers of visitors who show up dressed in period costumes totally committed to the life and times of the late Middle Ages. They seem excited to place themselves in a different era, where monarchies ruled and feudalism drew distinct boundaries between a privileged few and the rest of serfdom. The sight of so many adults and children regaled in medieval attire can be a bit disconcerting. Within minutes of our entry into the “kingdom” we were surprised to hear our name called by someone dressed as a nobleman, sporting a dapper black eye patch. It turned out to be my son’s comic book dealer. And so it goes.
Perhaps those who visit the faire in medieval garb are simply trying to make the most of their themed surroundings. Some may secretly wish for a life that seems more carefree and fun. Others might aspire to greater deeds of courage and bravery, like the knights who joust for queen and country in the arena. A few are probably secretly wishing this imaginary world still existed. I’m not going to judge anyone’s motives or question their right to have a good time.
However, it does seem a bit ironic that we remain so fascinated with a period of history when enlightened thought produced mostly cruel tyranny. I doubt if any of us would have enjoyed living under the oppressive monarchies or feudal system that governed society in those days. If there is a lesson to be learned from our trip to the renaissance faire it is that playing king and queen for a day is harmless. Immersing oneself in an entertaining depiction of some past era is a feast for our senses and a brief respite from the stress of modern society. It is also a reminder that our way of life and system of governance is unique and to be cherished. Fair thee well, then!
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