Strange as it can sometimes seem, Yes, just like a dream, everything is in motion In this life, just like it is supposed to be.
Everyone plays their part, from the very start, even when We second-guess, and are confused about The hidden art, which conjures such scenes Of mystery, confusion, and, yes sometimes Delusion.
Living inside of the unknown can be precarious, And even downright gregarious and, at times, Even quite nefarious.
Yet, living inside a dream isn’t always as It seems. There is a rhyme and reason in Every season, even when, maybe, especially When we are searching for a reason.
Well, last week was the first week of registration, and thus far we are busier than last term, which is grand. It will be interesting to see how registration goes the next couple of weeks.
The Saturday paper today read that the Governor of Oregon was intent that all Oregonians receive vaccinations by the end of June. And, in that same press release, the Governor also stated that people working in higher education will be vaccinated by April 1.
I am cautiously optimistic. Meaning, that the plan is a good one, and I appreciate the Governor for creating a strong vision, yet with all of the challenges and changes this past year, I think, staying in our current reality, for now, is best. And, our current reality?
Well, Benton County, where I live is still categorized as extreme risk, whereas Linn County, where I work is categorized as moderate risk. Yes, precarious.
The team and I are planning to be remote the rest of this fiscal year, and if that changes, we will face those changes at that time.
Alright, let’s discuss writing. Here are two reflections from this week.
As I was thinking about writing the poem Found, I was reflecting upon living in Flagstaff, AZ, which is 7000 feet in elevation and gets about 90 inches of snow in the winter. It is an amazing little town, and is beautiful throughout the entire year. Growing up in Los Angeles, the only time I experienced snow was when we traveled to Big Bear, which we did maybe once every other year.
Living in Flagstaff for 4 years was, well, very different, in that we had to learn how to live in the snow. As I reflected upon our time there, I was thinking about hiking in the snow, which is a lovely experience. You can come upon whole meadows, which are completely covered in snow, as far as you can see.
The reflection also reminded me of being disconnected from my inner-self for a long time, and how that’s not the case anymore, and it feels, well, beautiful.
Brilliance
The reflection for this poem was inspired by the WDYS prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje. A beautiful picture of the Taj Mahal, with the sun rising directly behind it, reminded me of majesty and brilliance.
I only partake in a couple of prompts today, and appreciate the inspiration these wonderful bloggers create. It is super fun each week to wait and wonder about the prompt, and then to get the reveal. Wonderful.
The picture of the Taj Mahal also reminded me of humanities resilience, and the beauty in standing for each other.
I’ve been thinking more about change this past week, as some states across the country begin to relax pandemic restrictions.
It reminds me that we will all have a lot of change coming in the next year, and, well, actually the next couple of years as we all learn to live in our new realities, whatever they end up being.
It also reminds me of the necessity and need of being gentle and patient with ourselves and each other. There is a lot that can be gained when we are gentle and exercise our patience. We get more for ourselves, and we give more back out to those we love and care about.
As we continue to face new changes this coming year, remember to be gentle and patient with yourself.
I am excited to report that I have two new clients. They’ve both come through work, and I am really enjoying working with both of them.
One is a small business owner, and the other is a local professional. I’ve been coaching people for many years, and it is one of the things I enjoy most about my work. I love to work with people on their personal and professional development, just as much as I do on my own development.
It is in conversations and relationships with other people where innovation, creativity, and developmental growth can occur. And, you know, every time I have a new client, I always learn something more about myself. Every time. Reciprocity is beautiful that way.
Alright, that’s all for this week.
Be well, love well, live well, and have a wonderful week.
Looking up into the blueness, The vastness of space collected Together for our mutual endeavor, And our innermost pleasure.
It’s beholden to see, such a treasure Of sight, and delight. It often reminds Me of being a young boy, living freely, no limits In sight, breathing in all of life’s gifts one at a time.
And, today, even on gray days, I can see Through that pillowy cover to the blueness That is there, awaiting the next time, the next breath, Winds shifting with our beating hearts, To reveal the depth of the drifting blue expanse.
Have you ever heard of the concept, the causal loop? Well, though I am familiar with the concepts that make up the causal loop, in regard to people and performance, I had never really conceptualized them like I am about to present them here.
It is important in any leadership, nay, any team environment to understand a very basic principle. Ready? Good. Here it is.
People and performance both matter. Seems like common sense, yes? Well, often only one side of the causal loop is focused on, which creates an imbalance in a very functional system. How does it work? Good question. Let’s take a look, shall we.
The Causal Loop Albany, Oregon 2021 Photo taken by Author
The Causal Loop
People
In any system, symmetry, or balance, is created when all the system pieces work together. With both symmetry and balance, you can move forward, or produce an output, if you like. And, like any system, when one part is dysfunctional, or is not being paid attention to, the whole system suffers. It may, for instance, still produce an output, yet there will be long-term sacrifices.
It is common for leaders to get caught up in metrics. Meaning, at some point in their tenure, and sometimes this can last the entirety of their tenure, they become obsessed with “the numbers.” It matters less what those numbers, or metrics are, what matters, is that when, as a leader, we become obsessed with results, we forget about the people that make the results happen.
Without people, results are an impossibility. Therefore, if you find yourself stuck on metrics, remember, that focusing solely on outcomes may work for a time. Really, it may. Yet, a performance only approach is not sustainable. Period.
In time, what will occur is that people will burn out, quit, and overall morale will decline. Why? Because their needs are not being prioritized. Simple.
And, like any system, if the parts of the system are not being prioritized and taken care of, the system will, in time, fail. It will always occur this way. Always.
Performance
Now, conversely if as a leader you are always focused on the people, and never focus on the performance, the system will also become dysfunctional, yet will do so in a completely different way.
When the culture of a workplace is the single focus on a team, or in a department, or in an organization or business, then leadership is missing a very important part of the balance of creating and maintaining an effective system. Performance.
Simply, there must be a focus on both people and performance for movement, and eventual traction to occur. A balance, if you like.
It is very normal on a team, any team, for the focus to shift back and forth between the workplace culture and the people, to performance. Shifting of this kind is especially normal on new teams.
I’ve written extensively about the team I work on, and have more forthcoming, and about how the entire first year was spent developing relationships. That was necessary. As it was necessary in year 2 to develop metrics, and in year 2.5 and 3 to focus on performance and people. Both.
There is a balance that can be found, and I imagine it is different on each team, and within each organizational or business culture. Yet, a leader can find it by paying attention. Paying attention to the people and the performance.
Movement and Traction
When you have achieved balance, know that the balance will never really truly be 50% people, 50% performance. Meaning, that sometimes there will be more of a focus on people, and at times on performance. It’s really most important to develop an awareness about how the causal loop functions as a system.
If you sway one way too far, you can move back to center, and vice versa.
Now, when you’ve increased your awareness about the causal loop, and pay attention to both people and performance, guess what?
Things will begin to move, and in some cases, like ours, move so quickly and beautifully, it is quite magical. And, once things start to move, traction will occur.
With traction, you are more than moving as a team. You are moving as a team while being pointed in the exact same direction all focused on the exact same goals and outcomes. Therefore, your performance and results show this truth.
Remember, it takes time to get to a balance between a focus on people and performance; and, that it is the awareness about the importance of both that matters. And, that? Well, that’s progress. Beautiful.
A grand palace, one that goes on, at times Without notice, sitting in the weather, not a care Near, nor a plethora of wear, tear, or despair.
As the sun rises, off in the distance, It casts a glow of such brilliance, making The grand even more persistent, while Simultaneously, reminding us all of our shared resilience.
Such displays need no homage or fanfare, Though, for sure, the latter is not rare, As people from around the world come to Share in the brilliance that is there.
In response to the WDYS #71 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
Up and and down, Have you ever trod slowly In the snow on a wintery day?
The feel as your shoe hits the flakes, And disappears inside the icy whiteness, Of the deserted brightness, looking around, To see who’s there, only to notice,
That it’s you, by yourself, taking one Step and then another. Making your way along a path no one Else can see, yet you know, you see
The path as clearly as the snow that’s All around you. It’s awfully astounding, And beautiful, and when we feel that quake Inside, to know that you’re never alone.
Even when there’s no one else in sight, Or who understands your exact plight. A mysterious conjecture of our human nature.
These tranquil days, reaching deep inside, To acknowledge both the pain and pleasure, You’ve been resisting, while persisting always Gives more power to our boundness,
Yet just on the other side is the relief We’ve been seeking. All we have to do Is stay quiet, wait a little while longer And the seeking will turn into a speaking, Releasing us to be found.
Shadowlight Words 