Noise abounds as people tell us what we should and should not.
Perhaps we do the same to others.

I stood in the back of an auditorium in New Mexico.  In ten minutes, I would be introduced to an audience of about 1,000 public school teachers. They had come to hear me for their professional development day.

One of the organizers leaned over and whispered in my ear. “You got a big group today! And, about 900 of them don’t want to be here.” He smiled.

Thanks!

Later this summer, I will facilitate  a four-hour workshop for 125 to 150 community college faculty.  The organizer told me that the event will be mandatory for the faculty.

One would hope the people forced to attend “training” would have input into what the program would cover. In my experience, that rarely happens.

I have written on this blog about the importance—the necessity—to ask questions, listen, and then act considering the information gathered. You can read those posts here and here.

At a community meeting this week, I noticed a similar dynamic.  Knowledgeable, civil, compassionate, and respectful people sat around the table with thoughts, plans, and initiatives for what we could do for our community.  Great ideas of how to help people and improve well-being. What was not part of the initial comments was the question, “Have we asked the people (our neighbors) what they want or need?”  Simple. Yet often overlooked in the hurry to do what we “know” is the right thing to do.

Noise abounds as people will gladly tell us what we should or should not do. Perhaps we do the same to others. (Probably do!)  At times, we go for the quick answer or (what we think is the) resolution and miss the eloquence of pertinent questions.

Ask authentic and meaningful questions.  Listen and ask more questions. Act with purpose, direction, and support.

Video recommendation for the week.

Active listening is not easy.  Just ask Ray Romano.

 Make it an inspiring and grateful week and H.T.R.B. as needed.

For information about and to order my book, Stories about Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island, click here.  A few colleges and one state-wide agency have adopted it for training and coaching purposes. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same.

The paperback price on Amazon is now $14.99 and the Kindle version stands at $5.99. Consider it for a faculty orientation or a mentoring program.  The accompanying videos would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

My podcasts: The Growth and Resilience Network® (http://stevepiscitelli.com/media-broadcast/podcast).

My programs and webinars: website  (http://stevepiscitelli.com/programs/what-i-do) and (http://stevepiscitelli.com/programs/webinars).

Pearson Education publishes my student textbooks for life success—Choices for College Success (3^rd edition) and Study Skills: Do I Really Need This Stuff? (3^rd edition).

(c) 2018. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved.