Conversations for the Change - Day 2 for Teams Y and Z

Teams Y and Z are just finishing their first day of the program and will beging to plan for Day 2.

In addition to their Daily Practice, they are:

Assessing their level of focus and action.
Ensuring they are engaged and committed to their goal.
Acknowledging barriers and taking action or making requests to remove barriers.
Creating a list of people who they do not know but should. Contacting them.
Focusing on shairng their goal with a broad group of people.

Many of the team members are taking on goals that are challenging and have the potential to make a significant differernce. It has been interesting to talk with each of them and get a sense for their commitment and passion for their goals.

Here is a portion of the email I sent to Y and Z:

A couple smart friends of mine, Laurie and Jeffrey Ford shared this helpful distinction in a training class they did for my company several years ago:

There are 2 types of conversations - One the Court and In the Stands. Think of a basketball court. There are players and spectators.

On the court conversations are aimed at making a difference. They are active. When we speak on the court we are players. Example: “I have noticed that we are losing some great people. I’d like to put together a plan for improving the environment and development so that we retain our great people and attract the best folks available. Will you participate in a brainstorming session tomorrow?“

In the stands conversations are water cooler conversations. They are directed “out there.” Example: “Until this company changes their ways and stops treating people like disposable resources, they will continue to lose great folks.”

If you want to make something happen, you need to get on the court. In the stands conversations make no positive difference and may negatively impact the situation.

How does this relate to your goal? Check to make sure that you are really getting on the court with your goal. And conversations NOT for the change are often also in the stands.

Food for thought....

Teams Y and Z - How did day 1 go?

Comments

[Nels]

It's probably cheating to use this as one of my announcements, but it'll serve as a good intro too...

I'm a member of the Z team, and I'm looking to break through into writing a novel. I've started it (barely), so part of my goal is to create the time needed to work on it (instead of doing silly procrastinatory stuff).

So, that's one announcement. I also told my girlfriend; even though she already knew, I presented my intention in the form of "This will get done." I also made (a somewhat half-hearted) request of her to try to figure out some time that I can set aside to write. I've kind of already decided that the morning will be my time, since I've got about 45 minutes - 1 hour before she gets up to do nothing but write. It's hard right now since I've got some work to get done by the end of the week, and my temptation is to work on that instead of doing my writing (at least I'm not procrastinating with stuff that doesn't matter, though!)

I also joined 4 writers groups on Google Groups. This should allow me to make requests this week or the next to do something exchange draft chapters with other writers.

With the length of this comment it's almost like I should get my own blog!

[Lisa Haneberg]

Nels: I like your "This shall be," perspective and your willingness to create a support structure that helps you past the tendency to let other things come before your writing. Great start! Please share the writing groups you joined with your team, as this might be helpful to other writers in the program,

[Sebastian]

Wow, being a sports fan (hockey) and a person who likes to use sports analogies, the differentiation between on the court and in the stands is so dead on, it will certainly find a way into my manner speaking; although I hope I am using it already, time for a little self analysis.

I sent out a request for a chat with a friend of mine who is now President of a PR agency which was granted. We will chat in two weeks.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Great start, Sebastian! We all sit in the stands sometimes, and that's OK. But we want to be on the court when it matters and when we are trying to make something happen.