 I have never considered myself very artistic.
When I was in college, I had a mandatory fine arts requirement, that I fulfilled the last semester of my senior year at university. My boyfriend, at the time, was also in the class, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of an imposter next to his amazing sketches. Yet, in the end, I found that I could actually draw - I just couldn't draw from my head. I needed a model (not necessarily a nude one.) Over the years, I have also come to realize that creativity isn't just about art, and that we all have the capability to create, if we allow ourselves to.
0 Comments
 Despite the fact that my book circles are listed as "trainings" in the various L&D catalogs for the companies I work with, my book circles aren't training.
There is NO WAY I could be an expert in all those fields of study. The role I have given myself is as a space holder and facilitator of learning and connection. I am NOT the subject-matter expert. I am NOT affiliated with the authors, either. This gives me space to roam - to create and connect ideas from across disciplines and across books. It's the end of the second week of school, when all of our various activities have fully started, I felt quite tired and unmotivated when I woke up this morning.
All I was thinking about was caffeine, when I could take a nap, and if I really needed to do the work that I have scheduled for today :) When my "How We Feel" app asked me how I was feeling at 8:55, I marked myself as "Meh," which is in the low energy, unpleasant quadrant. Lack of motivation. Lack of inspiration. Lack of energy. Instead of falling into that feeling, I decided to counteract it with movement. If you have ever thought about having your whole team, or whole organization read a book together, here are some ideas to consider.
1. STAY ALIGNED As a leader within your organization, you have a duty to support your team and your organization with the utmost integrity that you can. For me, integrity is about practicing our values. When you choose a book for your team, choose one that is aligned with the organization’s values, and with your objectives and strategy.  It's my first sketchnote after almost 5 weeks of not touching a pen.
My circles are wonky. My lines lack confidence. The spacing is too wide, or too squished. And that's okay. It highlights the importance of practice - not just practicing technical skills, like drawing, but also practicing those elusive human skills too. When I lead a book circle with a client, my goal is always to move beyond discussion. Discussion is only in the head. It was a beautiful summer day. Not too hot, with a breeze rustling the trees around the yard.
I was outside of Lille, spending a week working, while my children were on the coast with their grandparents. It was the end of the afternoon, and I had no more book circles for the day, so I rolled out a chaise lounge to soak up the sun and start preparing for a September book circle. After about 20 minutes, I put down the book and my pink pen, and headed inside for a glass of water. Then I heard it.  It was almost midnight.
Just ahead of us, a young man and woman got up from a nearby bench, and started walking in front of us. The young man then moved in front of the girl and started yelling in her face. She moved around him, and he followed, continuing to yell at her. She continued walking toward another group of boys. He got in her face again, still yelling. I watched the whole time, wondering if I should intervene. When I should intervene.  As I sat at the table, the conversation would bounce back and forth around me, and I would turn my gaze from one speaker to another.
Nodding along. Watching everyone else's expressions. Mimicking their facial movements. Laughing when they laughed (though a bit late.) When my husband would finally turn to me to translate, he gave me a 30-second recap of the 10 minutes of conversation prior.  My first meeting this morning started with dancing to Rush by Ayra Starr.
I do love to dance. Yet, I know NOTHING about it as a profession. (I leave that to Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD ACC) What I do know, is that professional dancers get judged based on a certain set of criteria, much like gymnasts, or divers do. Tomorrow, I am hosting 2 book circles on Adam Grant's book Think Again. One of the chapters we'll be focusing on is titled "Dances with Foes," where he invites us to think of a debate not like a fight, or a war, but as a dance.  The napkin lay between us, with scribbles and notes in my friend Marion's handwriting. He was taking notes on what he had available. My other friend Sandra and I were talking about my recent resignation. Eventually, Marion chimed in: Theresa, you know what your problem is? You've been playing checkers, hoping to get kinged, while all the other leaders around you are playing chess. You've been playing the wrong game. |
Hi there!I am Theresa Destrebecq. |
RSS Feed