Sometimes, the small things REALLY matter

I've had some good reminders of small, but really important practices to take note of during my last month on the road, which included a one day workshop and two three day trainings. Here they are:

INVITATION AS A LEADERSHIP TOOL

In September I hosted the third Art of Powerful Questions for IKEA in Sweden. This cohort drew on all three of the IKEA business sections.

People didn't know each other, but each had been invited by a colleague they trusted who told them it could be important both to their work and to them personally. That meant they all showed up with curiosity and strong commitment to be in learning with each other. A powerful demonstration of invitation at work! 

COMMUNITY GIVES US COURAGE

During the Flow Game Host training at the end of September in Denmark, we learn how to host the game by playing and hosting the game. This is known, of course, as action learning. Already from the second day of our three day training, participants are stepping up to host. 

Many people get surprised about how deep we can go when we are inside the container of the game. And they are also surprised to learn that the Game is actually hosting them when they thought they were hosting it!

The focus of our Team Game on day two is always a question about coming together as a community of practice, crafted by a small group of participants. Their question particularly resonated with me. It is darned uncomfortable to host something for the first time and not try to be perfect or fix everything. Having community at your back really helps!

THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION IN A DISTURBANCE

CEOs of not-for-profit organisations in Columbus, Ohio, showed up for the Art of Hosting last weekend. We had some powerful conversations about their work around food banks, the arts, people with disabilities, stopping human trafficking and more.

My fellow host for this training, Phil Cass, spent almost 40 years as a CEO in various organisations. He reminded us all that while we may not like disturbance, there is always fresh information and potential available from it. Every disturbance is the doorway to something. It depends on how we decide to meet the moment.