PEOPLE IN THEIRELEMENT
Exploring what becomes possible when people understand themselves and each other.
Even when people are capable and committed, and care about doing a good job.
Things get misunderstood. We make assumptions instead of asking questions. Comments don't always land the way we intended.
People who usually work well together can find themselves pulling in different directions without really understanding how they got there.
And sometimes you can see that something isn't quite right without being able to put your finger on what needs to change.
Things don't have to stay this way. And you don't need to have everything figured out before you do something about it.
Sometimes work feels harder than it should
“The things we leave unsaid have a habit of finding other ways to make themselves heard.”
My lens
We all see things through our own lens. I've always been fascinated by how confidently we can believe we're seeing the whole picture, when we're actually seeing it through our own experiences, expectations and assumptions.
A delayed response can feel like a sign that someone is unhappy with us, when it could just as easily mean they are busy, distracted, or dealing with something we know nothing about. A question can feel like criticism, or it can feel like a supportive challenge.
Often, the difference is the meaning we attach to it.
Once you start noticing that, people become a little more interesting. And sometimes, a lot easier to understand.
Curious about the person behind the ideas?
I've always been fascinated by people. Why we do what we do, how we make sense of each other, and what happens when we get curious about the bits we don't understand.
What if there’s more to see?
We don't always see the whole picture. Becoming curious about what we might be missing gives us more choices in how we respond and what we do next.
Sometimes seeing people differently changes everything
How we might work together
There isn't one right way to work with people.
Different organisations need different things at different times.
You might want to bring a team together and understand how you work better. You might be a leader who wants somewhere to think things through with someone who will ask useful questions. You might be growing or changing as an organisation and want to pay attention to what’s happening for the people alongside everything else. Or you might know that something isn't working as well as you'd like, without being quite sure what needs to change.
You don't need to have that worked out before we talk.
There are different ways we can work together. The important thing is finding what fits.
Want to keep ExpLoring?
Want to see what else I'm thinking about?
Try…
The Inner Circle
Reflections, ideas and questions about people, communication and working together.
Want to go deeper into these ideas?
Try…
People in Their Element
The book behind many of these ideas.
Prefer video and podcast content?
Try…
Keep Learning
Ideas, conversations and a chance to hear me talk about them.