Tag: change

Open your story to imperfection

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What happens when you fail the story you have so patiently and consistently crafted?

We all have ups and downs, yet some downs have the power to make us question the image of ourselves we have built. Perhaps we think of us as calm and patient, then we act irrationally and hastily. Perhaps we think of us as bold and innovative, then suddenly we are cautious and scared. Perhaps we think of us as caring and supporting, then we catch ourselves in a bitter and malicious mindset.

The beauty of stories, though, is that they are open enough to accept and welcome new behaviours without bending.

We still are calm and patient, but something unusual happened that made us act in an irrational and hasty way.

We still are bold and innovative, but with that new piece of information we felt it was worth it to be cautious and even scared.

We still are caring and supporting, but that person hurt us deeply and now we are in a bitter and malicious mindset.

If we accept this, it’s going to be easy to get back on track.

If we don’t, the thing we were not expecting will become what we expect of us next.

The first one

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In a moment of crisis, we need leaders that act responsibly.

Not in the sense that they need to come to us and tell that it’s their fault, or that they have made a decision and here is what we all have to do to comply. Responsibility is being accountable for your own actions, and so leading responsibly means that you are going to show us what to do, to live the restrictions, to take your own public steps towards what is necessary.

Giving orders and enforcing them is not the essence of leadership.

Be (the first) one of us, and we will follow.

Ourselves first

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Lifting others, empowering them, making them feel listened and appreciated, ensuring they can do their best with their skills and motivating them enough to go find learnings in their failures.

All of this is possible only if we allow it to happen to ourselves first.

“I am shit and you are great” is a narrative that does not serve any of the above purposes.

The beast

FabrizioLeave a comment

How much of the past are you taking into today?

Will you be saying ‘hello’ to the person who rejected you years ago, calling now with a new opportunity?

Will you be asking ‘what’s next?’ when a friend you have not talked to in years will want to patch things up?

Will you be open to take that chance, despite having failed it before in similar circumstances?

If we can label what’s going on, look the beast in the eyes, move past regrets, judgement and might-have-beens, our day will be much lighter.

There’s no need to overcomplicate things with burdens that serve no purpose in our life.

Precaution and preoccupation

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In certain circumstances, when much is at stake, when it’s a matter of life or death, when you are trying to contain a problem that could have grim repercussion, overreacting can be the right choice. It’s about protecting something that is dear, and it is ok to be overly precautious.

Being preoccupied, on the other hand, is rarely the better thing to do. It’s a distraction to keep us busy, a way to delay important decisions, a focus that engulfs our mind and that we do not need.

Precaution is action that keeps the problem at bay. Preoccupation is debate that makes the problem big enough so that nothing else exists.

Precaution is (it should be) the language of governments, authority, leadership. Preoccupation is the language of media, populism and masses.

Choose carefully which one to utilize as you go about this difficult time.