Tag Archives: community

(#454) Recognize The Stories In The Room


No matter how far-sighted leaders may be on an issue, if they cannot connect to the emotional responses of their constituents, relevance is missed and opportunity squandered. This past week I attended and spoke at our city commission meeting. The … Continue reading

Posted in assumptions, awareness, collaboration, Communication, community development, Connection-Disconnection, leadership, Life lessons, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#453) Beyond Hope


We articulate what we want to see happen. Yet that does not finish movement to improvement. I have been hearing and reading sentiments like “there will never be progress” and “there is no hope” and “all hope is lost.” Often, … Continue reading

Posted in assumptions, awareness, Community, consideration, conversation, Goals, hope, Life lessons, resilience | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

(#451) The Conversation Starter


There are no strangers; only friends she has yet to meet. It was a chance encounter on a pet therapy round. As Roxie and I exited a hospital office area, a woman stopped in the hallway and looked at us. … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, Civility, collaboration, compassion, empathy, intentionality, kindness, pet therapy | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#450) Respectful Relationships


Respectful relationships help build lasting, meaningful, accepting, loving, nurturing, and sustaining communities. As I wrote Community as a Safe Place to Land, I had the opportunity to speak with transformational people in communities from Savannah, Georgia to Celebration, Florida.  Each … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, accountability, action, amplifying, Appreciation, Communication, Community, community development, Life lessons, resilience, respect, responsibility | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

(#447) Resistance Bubbles


How do we get the two groups to the table to capitalize on the 10% they agree on—to start a conversation and maybe educate one another to each resistance bubble’s beliefs and core values? Is this a worthy goal—and, is … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, Appreciation, Appropriate Behavior, assumptions, awareness, change management, Civility, collaboration, collegiality, community development, consideration, conversation, curiosity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

(#443) Why Did We Form This Band?


There are some things that really matter, like a shared vision. If the singer wants to be a star, the guitarist wants to play a different style and the bassist and drummer are in it to smoke weed and jam… … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, awareness, Being REMARKABLE, change management, Choice, Civility, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, Community, community development, consideration, conversation, core values, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#442) Community Building: Beyond Why to How


The question, in my mind, moves beyond why we need community to how we go about building and sustaining it. While dichotomies can be simplistic, they can also help frame a conversation. When you seek a community, toward which end … Continue reading

Posted in acceptance, accountability, action, amplifying, assumptions, authenticity, awareness, change management, Communication, Community, community development, confirmation bias, Critical Thinking, leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#441) It Means Something to Somebody


It got me thinking about those missed moments when we think something isn’t “worth it.” I often post sunrise photos from my beach walk with Roxie (B.D.E.). Judging from the “likes” and comments, people enjoy “sharing” the morning scenery with … Continue reading

Posted in action, assumptions, awareness, Civility, Community, compassion, intentionality, kindness, Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

(#438) You May Not be the Gift in the Room


Effective collaboration rests on the ability to share the stage. In the early 1990s, the public high school where I taught created a committee called the “Shared Decision-Making Committee.”  I was tapped as its first chair.  The stated mission of … Continue reading

Posted in accountability, amplifying, authenticity, Being REMARKABLE, Being selfish, Choice, Civility, collaboration, collegiality, Communication, Critical Thinking, decision making, Life lessons | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#436) Facing the Worst. Preparing for the Best.


Once the conversation started, no one was going to stop it. Two NOTES to my readers: Tomorrow, October 1, begins Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This week’s blog post honors the month, those with (and who have had) breast cancer, the … Continue reading

Posted in amplifying, Appropriate Behavior, authenticity, awareness, change, Choice, Community, courage, focus, fortitude, Friendship, generativity, Gratitude, growth, inspiration, Integrity, Life lessons, Passion, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments