There are a number of crucial issues that are forcing us to revisit and redesign how we work, such as the pandemic, the important dialogue about anti-racism, and climate change, to name just a few. All of us up a variety of learning curves, where we need to come up with new skills and strategies to figure out how to deal with challenges.
I’ve been having a lot of conversations with clients and friends alike and it’s clear that this marathon of managing change we are all running can be quite taxing. Part of the challenge is that we are in this liminal space “in between” how we used to live and work, and what the future will look like. That place of transition can feel quite uncomfortable as we don’t yet know how this “movie” we are living in will turn out.
I’ve been having some great conversations with clients and my network of professional colleagues these past several days about the challenges, and advantages, of working virtually. While I miss working with people in a room face-to-face too, I do believe we can bring a richness of connection and engagement to our virtual conversations too. The trick is you can’t just cut-and-paste your old meeting agenda and strategies onto our virtual meeting places…
When faced with conflicting advice, changing information and a whole heap of change all at the same time, it’s uncomfortable. And sometimes to get out of that discomfort quickly we may make premature decisions or conclusions rather than staying patient and riding it out.
Are you losing track of time? Do you wake up confused about whether it’s a weekday or a weekend? I’ve had several conversations in the past week or so and a lot of folks are finding it hard to keep a sense of time, after several weeks of this pandemic-restructured lifestyle we’ve been living.
Here in my hometown we’re entering really week 3 of this lock-down, physical distancing, isolate-yourself-at-home world. I’ve noticed that the initial adrenaline and quick action o getting my pantry stocked and making sure my kids were safe and sound has subsided. There’s a new vibe out there in the world.
Change isn’t easy. Unless you have a magic wand, making the changes needed so you achieve your goals isn’t something that typically happens right away. Yet in the pressurized and stressful world of change that is our new norm, the urge to just find a “quick fix”…
I had the great fortune to graphically record the keynotes from an incredible line-up of speakers at The Art of Leadership in Toronto. This was an inspiring day, with knowledge nuggets being dropped from the stage continuously by world-renowned authors, speakers, and researchers, as well as from executives leading the charge on navigating change in their own organizations.
At the 2019 International Forum of Visual Practitioners annual conference, I was so fortunate to be in the company of 180 other graphic facilitators from 25 countries. We came from different cultures, different languages, and different experiences, but we all shared a common burning desire to use visual tools to spark great understanding, creativity and be a force for good when it comes to understanding and solving complex problems.
I do believe that life throws us these curve balls not to challenge us, but to change us. Now that I’m several months along in this grief walk, I feel I can start to articulate some of the choices that have helped along the way. I realize these choices are useful in any period of intense transition. Grieving the loss of a dream – a long and happy marriage, your health, a job you loved – can be just as painful and challenging as grieving the loss of a loved one.
Copyright © 2023 www.CarolynBEllis.com Designed by Virtual360
By signing up and providing your email address, you’ll also receive the weekly “Bits of Brilliance” newsletter which contains resources and strategies to help leaders navigate change effectively. All emails include an unsubscribe link. You may opt-out at any time. See our Privacy Policy.
