Monthly Archives: April 2019

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

The whims of the people

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Over the last couple of years, electorates have been choosing strong conservative candidates like Rob Ford (Ontario), Donald Trump (US) and on their way to select Jason Kenny (Alberta).

It seems like a significant majority of the populous is seeking to focus on themselves.  Its all about me is becoming a mantra for political choice.

Brexit is just another example of this.  the aforementioned politicians and their ilk are full of rhetoric that demands actions and uses bullying tactics (threats) to reinforce their case.

Are we all that Simple

For me it is frustrating.  Do the majority believe these impossible pronouncements.   I will balance the budget.  I will stop terrorism.  I will end illegal immigration.

Surely feasibility should be part of the decision process for people deciding which politician to support.  There is ample evidence that this popular but impossible promises never get implemented.  Still masses of people blindly accept them, why is this?

Continuous Improvement

Governments can enhance the lives of their constituents but the focus should not be on promises to get them elected but rather practical actions that can both be implemented and will lead to positive change.

In today’s environment of wide open communication channels flooding the airwaves with any and all messages is easily done.  Misinformation, particularly in the political arena, is rampant.

For our own good, we need to raise our filters.  Everything should not be accepted at face value.  Ask, is this promise real or just attractive?

Whether the government is conservative, liberal or communist, as long as their policies can be implemented and improve everyone’s lives I support them.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Clarity

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When communicating the qualities of transparency and coherence coupled with the intelligibility of message are critical to making a real impact.

The substantive power of the message is diminished if it is not clear.  The point must be comprehensible and the measure of clarity is whether the communication is understood.

Understanding

The intended meaning must be the same for both the sender and the recipient for understanding to have occurred.   Validation by asking questions to determine if the message was clear is a viable approach to checking for understanding, but not failsafe.

Even when probing open-ended questions are used, all parties to the communication could be fooled.  That is both you and them may be convinced the intended meaning was clear, however, at a later date gain surprising evidence that it actually was not.

Guiding Principles

Although following up to confirm clarity in communication is a best practice, it is not always practical, nor, as previously noted, foolproof.   The best approach is to for the communication to be founded on clarity.

Here are some simple principles to follow:

  • Keep it simple.  The audience, whether for a written or verbal communication, tends to tune out when bored or not read everything.
  • Keep their interest.  Tell the story in a straightforward way.  Focus on your audience and cater to their interests so they will stay tuned.  The storyteller has accountability for setting the context for active listening as much as the receiver.
  • Be direct. Use the active voice, that keeps others interest by leaving out extraneous, bureaucratic or potentially confusing points.  That is, get to the point.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

The big picture

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The immediate present is often the focus of our activities.   Being present in the moment obviously has value.  The downside to this tactical approach is that does not prepare us for the future.

Dealing with the “now” cannot be avoided.  Planning is a way to make the results of current actions better.  It also makes it easier to act because the approach is already thought out.

Be Prepared

Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the boy scouts clarified the organizations’ motto (be prepared) as applying to both mind and body.  That is to think out and be physically ready beforehand to take on any issue or circumstance that might occur.

Preparation (advance planning) is key is to do the right thing at the right moment.  Acting and then reacting or reworking depending on the results can be agile but might not be as efficient or effective as taking the big picture into account and being prepared in advance.

Iterative Planning

Planning in advance is unlikely to take into account every possible circumstance.  Developing a view of the big picture must take in account its fluidity.  Things change with time.

Planning should be an iterative process with enough built-in flexibility.  It is important to both be prepared but also have the ability to react to circumstance.

Being ready is simply a tool to assist in acting in the best way possible without surprise, fear or uncertainty.   Being prepared, that is having a plan and a vision of the best strategies, should not be treated as a straightjacket.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Let it Grow

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The simple pine cone on the ground seeks only reproduction of its species.  Let it lie.  This sentiment speaks volumes towards human interference with both human and the earth’s ecology (don’t do it).

By interfering with intrinsic growth processes great damage can be done.  This applies whether the object is plant or animal.  In the case of humans letting development occur naturally is the optimal approach.

Normal Growth

Normal physical or mental growth (aka natural development) in humans varies by individual.  As we age, our chosen activities (both physical and mental) dictate the type and magnitude of personal development.

From youth to an adult much of our growth is a mix of pre-programmed genetic factors and our environment which can be largely manipulated by the adults around us.

As time goes on our ability to make our own development choices grows.  However, even in adulthood, sometimes others try to direct and constraint our choices.

Helping Others Grow

If humans were mushrooms putting them in a dark room and feeding them shit would lead to sustained growth.  Unlike mushrooms, people need light and opportunity to develop best.

Providing guidance coupled with an enabling environment will allow others to make choices that fit their needs and thus are more likely to lead to positive results.

Framing expectations and funneling the learning opportunities can restrict development and actually be detrimental.  When assisting others with personal growth, share your knowledge, provide support and guidance but do not direct.

This approach may not cause mushrooms to flourish but it works wonders for humans.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Steadily Seeking Serenity

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Without purpose, life can be boring.  The balance between a state of stress and being calm, peaceful, and untroubled is founded on a belief in your own self-worth.

There is a multitude of ways for us to value ourselves.  On the whole assessment of our worth as a human being is subjective.  However, how we view our intrinsic value is key to how we feel.

To feel serene you must believe in yourself, that is you must believe the value you bring to human life is substantive and you are comfortable with it.

It is about you

Self-worth leading to personal serenity is about who you are, not what you do.  Each of us develops personal values beginning from the day we are born.

Being fully comfortable with your values, using them to underpin your behaviour and, in essence, form the core of who you are, is the first step to attaining a state of serenity.

A Balanced Approach

Being in a constant state of serenity is not the goal, it must be balanced with things that challenge.  When your actions are founded on a state of serenity you are more likely to succeed in meaningful ways.

Thrusting forward through a state of stress without taking a pause to recharge can lead to a breakdown.   Moments of calm and peace enable to work through the periods of stress and concern.

A well-rounded approach to the way you live your life, having full confidence in yourself and your personal contributions to human life will enable achievement of a state of serenity when desired.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Movers and Shakers

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Derived from the 1874 poem “Ode” by Arthur O’Shaughnessy the term “movers and shakers” became well known in the early nineteen hundreds when incorporated in a popular musical of the time.

The phrase is commonly used to describe powerful and worldly individuals and groups and those who make great accomplishments. Simply those who shake the foundations of conventional thinking by the strength of their imagination and vision.

No Boundaries

For the goal and objective oriented individuals to be classified as a mover and shaker is an admirable ambition.  For these dreamers, there are often very few hard boundaries.

Being viewed as a mover and shaker requires effort.  Basically, the perception arises when you clearly are the one getting things down.  Stated differently, you demonstrate the ability to use your personal power effectively.

The status quo does not define you and you do not view the eliciting of major and significant changes as shaking things up but rather simply achieving things.  Often labelled results oriented.

Leaders?

Typically those we recognize as great leaders fit this definition although to be a great leader you do not need to be a mover and shaker and if you are defined as a mover and shaker, it does not necessarily mean you are a great leader.

Being perceived as a mover and shaker can often form a strong base for a leader to launch their vision.  Also though it can be perceived as too forceful and not always to everyone’s benefit.  Some people prefer the status quo and movers and shakers make them uneasy.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Acknowledging Achievement

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There are many motivating factors for those that consistently attain exceptional results.  The focus and effort required to reach your goals often derive from individual needs.

While the specific drivers of our actions and behaviours vary for each of us based on our personality, environment and general life philosophy, ultimately it is underpinned by a desire to increase our happiness and joy

Common Motivators

Compensation and recognition underly the majority of motivational techniques.   Compensation encompasses direct financial to any type of reward (e.g., a new TV).  Recognition ranges from a simple thank-you to a top award (e.g., Olympic Gold Medal).

While the reasons for anyone specific behaviours or actions can be far ranging from a wide variety of needs and wants almost all can be linked back to compensation and recognition.

Recognition, Only five minutes of fame?

A quick thank-you or acknowledgement of success seems brief and fleeting.  In reality, the effect is much more durable and longer lasting.

The impact of praise or even just acknowledgement continues to the next task or goal.  It has been shown by many studies into the nature of winning/success that achievement increases the probability of future outcomes being positive.

This is not an absolute, winning can be followed by loosing, but on a statistical basis winning is more likely to become consistent when coupled with recognition.

Simply put, the statement “Success breeds success” is intuitively true for most people.

Unrecognized success is far less powerful a motivator than that which is acknowledged and commended.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Surprise

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Circumstances occur where the unexpected or unusual is suddenly forced on you.  Surprise.  Surprises can be both pleasant and unpleasant.

Managing yourself in the face of surprise is a critical skill.  Basically, this means controlling your behaviour to ensure something you will regret or be unhappy about does not occur.

Don’t React

A critical underpinning of responding in the best possible way to a surprise is to not react based on your sub-conscious. The trigger of surprise could elicit joy, fear, confusion, anger, frustration and the list goes on.

Allowing the instinctive reaction associated with the emotion to drive your behaviour can result in less than desirable outcomes.  While time to react appropriately may be short this should not limit you from undertaking a conscious analysis.

Stop, Think

The emotional reaction could be appropriate but it could just a well be harmful.  Freezing with anger might be far less effective than pausing, thinking out  a reasoned response and then executing calmly.

Not an easy task, particularly when in some cases response times really impact results and a slow response could be deadly.  However, actions reasoned out based on full awareness are much more likely to provide a positive outcome.

Generally surprises cannot be avoided, by definition they are unexpected.  That said another way of dealing with surprise, one that gives more chance of reponding effctively, is to consider the risk of an unexpected event and plan how to mitigate it in advance.

Whether through planned risk mitigation or pausing, thinking and planning it is generally best to control your reaction as oppossed to just …….. well, reacting instinctively.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

The Right Answer

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Some problems have many possible resolutions.  In these cases, there is often no “right answer”.  A plethora of options exist and each will provide the desired outcome.

The multitude of options often leads to fervent discussion, even argument.  I am often amused when listening as an independent observer, how, ultimately all parties are basically arguing semantics with the conclusion consistently the same.

Who Cares

Human nature, that is the natural instinctual behaviour for most people, dictates that we want to be accepted.  This causes us to care when our solution is not recognized as the best.

Since it is often the case that no solution is necessarily the best this can (and does) lead to non-productive behaviour (usually by all parties to a discussion).

Caring, that is having strong feelings or concerns associated with something translates to being accountable for your own thoughts and actions and is generally a good thing.

In the case where collaboration is the best course of action, ownership can get in the way of achievement. The best course of action can be side-tracked by emotions.

In these situations, it is most helpful if the focus is on the outcomes (what we are trying to achieve) as opposed to an individuals self-worth.

A workable solution

In situations with a number of good options all being elegantly proposed by passionate individuals, I suggest we focus on anything that works and resolves the issue.

Our own personal feelings should be set aside so we may concentrate on achieving a result that benefits everyone.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

What is Reality?

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A common definition of reality is the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.

It seems simple enough but determining the existence of something, and what that entails, has a subjective component and therefore defining what is real can become different depending on individual perspective (although this flies in the face of the definition.)

Existentialism

Soren Kierkegaard was a philosopher who proposed that each individual—not society or religion—is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely, or “authentically”

In essence, this could be broadly interpreted as meaning we create our own reality.  How we give real meaning to our lives is founded on our self-creation.

We create ourselves and live within our self-creation.  This becomes our reality and the essence of our existence.  This does not mean we can ignore things as they actually exist, however; we can perceive them in the context of our self-actualization.

So Is Anything Real?

If there is broad acceptance by everyone that a thing actually exists than it does.   What that existence means and the impacts of it can be open to analysis and interpretation.

A single reality only exists for the individual but out of convenience and for practical purposes general consensus of reality across a population is needed.

Your own reality is constrained by outside forces.  For example, if you believe you have the ability to survive underwater with breathing assistance, the constraints of reality will intrude in a very real and deadly way.