Todd Hoskins chooses and uses tools, products, and practices that could belong in an entrepreneurial business toolkit. He’ll be checking out how useful they are to folks in a business environment.
Cool Practice Review: Dialogue Exercise
A Review by Todd Hoskins
Earlier this year, Liz wrote on how gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” “Breathing” gratitude contributes to thrivability, both in oneself and extending to one’s friends, co-workers, and community.
But gratitude is very difficult in the face of pain.
Can I be grateful for my divorce? For my genetic condition? For a decline in income or revenue? For a dissatisfied client?
By finding gratitude within a challenge or hardship, it takes away my victim status, and allows me to see how suffering can contribute to my growth. My wound can become my strength, and I can grin (and weep) in the face of loss because I know a stronger foundation is being built.
Businesses have had their share of pain, not just now, for it is a part of working within a living system where systemic needs are sometimes contrary to the people working within the system. At an organizational or group level, there is enormous power in sharing the individual and collective difficulties along with the growth that may emerge from the hardship. Try this exercise as a reflection on the past year, or use it in your annual reviews:
1. Each person writes down 2-3 difficulties and why they are grateful for them. Encourage your people to speak on behalf of themselves, and/or the team.
I am grateful for _____, because it has ______.
(i.e. I am grateful for John’s resignation, because it has shown me how I do not allow people who work for me to creatively experiment and try out their own ideas).
((i.e. I am grateful for losing our largest client, because it has demonstrated how much we compromised on our vision in order to keep them happy).
2. Each person shares their gratitude sentences, with no judgment or commentary from the group.
3. Offer thanks for the participation, but don’t try to solve anything. Give the exercise some breathing room. A discussion may ensue, but a debate, planning session, or analysis would be best saved for later.
Try it, and let us know how it went!
Summing Up â Is it worth it?
Enterprise Value: 5/5 â Groups should be kept below 25
Entrepreneur Value: 5/5 â Want commitment and teamwork? This helps you get there.
Personal Value: 5/5 – For family, for friends, even your network of ambient intimacy
Happy Thanksgiving!
