Month: November 2020

How important is your truth? What is your truth? Why is being self so important?

If you are not yourself, who are you? If you do not say what you want to say, what do you say? These questions and so many more like them are not to be taken lightly because they point directly to whether or not we are ourselves in this moment, or we are being what others want us to be. So the question: Are we ourselves and candid or are we what we believe others want us to be? And what do others want us to be; and, if we do run and hide, why?

If we are ourselves we speak candidly, not to harm or to disagree, although this is always a possibility with those we communicate to, but to express ourselves in an open and honest way. We also invite (actually insist) others we communicate with speak their own voice.  In fact, this is exactly what makes our best leaders and role models. They speak their own voice and words and do their best to empower the true voice and words of those they relate to. 

Each of our own truths is too important to hide. On the other hand, if we expose our truth do we jeopardize our place at the “kitchen table,” school or at work? This is a serious problem to overcome and why good leadership is essential to our being open in conversation. Without quality leadership as our role model inviting, seeking genuine dialogue, how do we get there if we feel unsafe and insecure?

A brief story: The relationship I had with the president of the International Hotel was an honest and open one and our program for children prospered. We listened to and understood each other. When sold to the Hilton Corp. they replaced the original leader with their own corporate man. In little time he made it clear that he did not want dialogue with his subordinates, but adherence to his policies. “I raised 3 boys and I know all about children. I will instruct you.” I quit and in one year the children’s program closed. A loss never to be recoverd.

A bad leader does not generate trust and truth. The alternative is being a pawn and someone else. I choose self. It was easy.  Sy

I am truth each day———I seek truth in every way———-Please be only you.  

My use of the term “confirm” is intended to mean “I hear and understand you” and not by parroting the speaker, but in a listener’s own words. “So what you are saying——-” and if in accord with the speaker’s intentions the speaker feels heard, understood and confirmed. Wow!

 I cannot over emphasize the importance of confirmation to the speaker. Any speaker of substance believes they offer words and thoughts that have value worth the listener’s time and attention. I also go deeper by suggesting that the listener’s confirmation of the speaker and what they hear and understand, nurtures the speaker to go deeper into their subject matter. Simply, how else does the speaker know that the listener listens and understands?  And what of the few that may appear to listen to the speaker, but are somewhere else? How is it possible for speaker and participants to connect; and, if not connected, why be teacher, leader, role model to them?

Experience is my teacher: In the service I held weekly gatherings discussing current news, taught elementary school children, and trained my own young staff on how to work with children. Eventually I led workshops with professionals, entrepreneurs, leaders and their Inner Circles. In very little time I discovered that many of my listeners did not always listen. So like the professional comic dealing with a raucous audience I developed an easy way of bringing listeners to the table and being present. As I wrote in a recent paper, I frequently stopped talking and questioned my supposed listeners to tell me what they heard, thought, feel, etc. about what I said. I asked for their opinions, I invited dialogue even if my understanding of the significance of dialogue was years away.

From the speaker’s view point checking on what people hear and understand is essential and needs to occur often.  This is also a training device that over time brings even the most reticent to “the table.” Finally, if a speaker feels that what they have to say is important and necessary they need to take as much responsibility as required to get their message across. Bringing listeners to the point of dialogue, questioning, even agreement or disagreement is a gift shared to the betterment of all, including the speaker.      Sy

I have this to say————–All I ask, that you listen———-Agree, disagree. 

When we’re present (in the now) we usually hear what is being said to us, but may not understand or agree with what is being said. When a speaker speaks they need to know that they are being listened to, understood and maybe that agreement also results? This is typical conversation taking place between people that may not feel as equals. Here I could be referring to parent/child, teacher/ student, boss/employee, or any relationship where hierarchy exists. This is a picture of the speaker with power to influence, the listener not having their true voice, making the probability of an honest exchange between speaker and listener remote.

On the other hand, where and when genuine dialogues takes place, people, at least during the period dialogue happens, feel and therefore are temporarily equals. Now, hearing, understanding and even agreement becomes part of the environment. If the one with power to influence empowers the other and this becomes the listener’s experience and feelings, dialogue will lead to hearing, understanding and real possibility of agreement.

The difference between dialogue and conversation are worlds apart. Typical talk or instructions from people with power down to people that feel powerless (feeling powerless is identical to being powerless) is usually a waste of time.  Those that use power to dominate may believe they are heard, understood and agreed with. They may be heard and maybe understood, but expecting agreement is rare, compliance the more likely. Not what a true leader wants so people in power are responsible for building trust and empowering those they hold power over. Since dialogue, if it is to take to take place, must be between equals, how else can this take place?

In my workshops I frequently stopped lecturing and made it a point to ask each participant, looking directly at them, to tell me what they heard, understood and their feelings and thoughts. If they did not want to share I thanked them and went to the next person and asked the same questions. When someone spoke I listened and confirmed what they said. I never asked them to agree with me. They shared thoughts and feelings, I listened. In time everyone talked and interrupted too. Lecturing became dialogue.  Sy   

Being In the Present Is Where We need to Live Our Life. For Too Many This Is A Rare Experience:

It was a first gathering with this group of 10 including the leader. When preparing for a new organization and a first gathering of the leader and their Inner Circle I tell them to come to the workshop prepared to be as comfortable as possible. I suggest jeans or sweats because we might spend some time lying about on the floor. Anything I can do to increase interest in what is to come has to help people that have never met me. I always searched for tools and methods to bring this about.

This particular time I brought to the meeting a small boom box and a CD of Baroque Music. I had every one find a comfortable place on the floor and told them that we were going to listen to about 3 minutes of baroque music and that I would replay this same section of music 4 times. The first time I want them to listen to the music as one whole picture. I played the CD and people listened at different levels. A few may have been familiar with the music, but the majority had no connection to this very old/new sound, but at least heard the variety of instruments playing with and against each other in a harmonious way. In the 2^ndlistening I told them to listen, once again, to the full baroque orchestra. 

Following the identical 3 minute piece a 2^ndtime proved that familiarity was quick to take place. For the 3^rdlistening I asked them to select an instrument and for the 3 minutes follow only 1 instrument and try not to hear any other instruments. I did this for the 4^thlistening and to select the same instrument and filter out any other sound. At the conclusion of the 4^thtime listening to the same piece of music I waited a few minutes and went from person to person inviting their feelings and thoughts.

The experiences they shared were powerful certainly to them. At least four cried while sharing what they felt and for some what they saw. One told us of being visited by G—and was assured that her mother would recover after a serious operation. Another shared that she was flying by herself over the countryside and saw colors and landscape as never before. Each shared what for them was a remarkable moment during this experiment of being fully present. Needless to say, the experience of being present with the baroque enveloping them was a successful time for everyone. In future gatherings we never needed to spend time or discuss “being present.” We all simply were. And, yes, more music?

Without being in the here and now we do not hear each other. We certainly do not understand each other and we cannot converse and feel confirmed relative to what we say and feel. So much is lost when not present. In comparison, so much is gained by our being present. Dialogue with family, friends, co-workers and even strangers is potentially so full of riches that to miss what being present means to each of us is too great a loss. Just consider what the people in this story gained and learned about themselves by our simple music experiment?  (Hearing and listening—next)       Sy

Haikus:

I am here and now————-A blessing to be present————–Why be somewhere else?

The Key “Be Present”———-Opens doors to know answers———–Are you here and now?

My thoughts on a workshop for early grade teachers and the potential they have to alter the beliefs and behavior of their students:

My experiences have taught me that there are absolute conditions that must exist if participants of workshops are to benefit. What follows will list and describe these essential conditions. I may also share a story or two experienced during workshops I have given. Let’s see what we shall see. 

Being Present: How important a beginning? Without being present where is the student? People might be anywhere in their mind, but not the workshop room. This is where they must be physically, mentally and emotionally. If not, all is wasted regardless of its potential value to them.

For many, not being present is a learned response to unpleasant and even terrifying experiences. Early on children learn to emotionally run and disappear. They learn how not to be present.  It could be parents arguing and screaming, or even being physical. Being helpless to intervene, mental and emotional escape is easy to grab hold of and use and may become their chosen way of dealing with events out of their control or threatening.

Mental and emotional escape or not being present and in the “now” is damaging to ones psychic and physical being. The scar tissue runs deep because it usually begins very early in a child’s life and continues to do damage to the person throughout their life. Being present as long as safety is assured is like walking on very thin ice so not being present is kept close by for those that feel the need to escape. 

Since my need to have all participants as fully present as possible, I begin each new workshop with the importance of “being present” as an opening discussion. If necessary, I might introduce a fun activity that is almost assured to bring the value of being present to everyone even those few who are rarely present. 

What follows in the next paper is the story of a super process I’ve used where necessary. It’s a winner. I know this because when used people have taken it home with them.  Sy 

Years of experiences providing workshop for people from literally every walk of life has blessed me with an array of tools and much understanding of what a successful education program in the “art of relationship” needs to be.  Originally, I was employed to help professionals and entrepreneurs train their staff. After-all, it was what I did with considerable success for the prior 25 years. 

Working with other leaders I quickly saw that most problems with staff had little to do with staff, but with the words and behavior of their leader. This troubled me since I had been a leader for 25 years and had no thought that I may have been the cause of the problems I had with individuals that worked for me.

I never remember asking staff “what kind of leader am I?” I just took care of problems as they arose. Staff problems were always “their” problem and I handled problems and problem staff with the belief that it was my job to solve problems and not to cause them.

Working with other leaders introduced me to the power these people possessed and the realization that it was the same power I had as a leader. I needed to understand (at last) what being a leader meant. This led to the issue of power and influence over others and to my doing research more intense than at any time in my life. I read everything from every source I could find on the subjects. My notes took up boxes as did my library fill top to bottom. I became a true student and loved every moment. 

I also learned that there were leaders that sought me out expecting to gather “tools” in order to better dominate and manipulate their staff. That they might be their own worst enemy never entered their mind or psyche. Self growth was not what they sought, or open to any of that. Also, many had years of therapy and still believed they were not the problem; others were their problems. These people seek to change their appearance, not themselves. It’s always others they seek to change. I chose not to work with them, but did work with those that had the courage to accept “that they might be the barrier to the experience they sought.”Genuine Dialogue, GenuineRelationship and Authenticity.”  Sy