I’ve been facilitating a leadership retreat for the past two days and I’m exhausted. The work of listening, listening, listening and trying to absorb not only content and context, but acronyms, personalities, idiosyncrasies, and corporate culture in mere hours is nearly enough to do me in. And I’m not nearly as tired as the participants! They’ve worked hard – to understand, to hear, to speak, to strategize, to prioritize, to collaborate, to commiserate, to create. “Retreat” feels like a misnomer. It’s just a different kind of work in a different location.
In the midst of all the work, I’ve been meta-processing. Not surprising for those of you who know me or read much of what I write. I have this proclivity and love for seeing themes, reading between the lines, picking out what’s not said, and thinking things through at a pretty high-altitude. I admit it: it’s definitely my preference. But this is a group that wants action.
I feel the tension.
So do they.
How are we to decide between the two? There’s certainly value to both. Clearly, there’s timing in which one takes precedence over the other. For example, if I were in a sinking ship, action be my choice. There’s really no time to wonder about life-themes, larger ideas, and theoretical constructs. But the reverse is also true. There are many times in which we just act – often out of habit, ingrained behavior, or even unhealthy patterns – without really thinking about what we’re doing; without considering more, why, “what if?”.
It’s both/and.
How do we know which is best or most appropriate in a given circumstance? And to make matters even more complicated, how are we to manage either process if relationships find us with those who who have the opposite tendency? (Some of you might be aware that even now, in the midst of this very blog, I’m still processing, still in high-altitude realms, far from “action’ realms. I know. I know.) It’s both/and.
I could say that blogging, by its very nature, compels the higher-altitude tendency. It’s a space in which I can process, consider, reflect – and invite the same of my readers. But there is also action-based blogging: posts (and sites) that are strictly revenue-driven and striving to compel your action in every word, phrase, and hyperlink.
It’s not all quite as cut-and-dried as it might first seem. Upon further reflection (yep…there I go again) even high-altitude blogging can be understood to be about action on some level. I wouldn’t write what I do if I weren’t using it as the very tool through which my own’ or others’ action is compelled. Maybe its more subtle than buying a product or monetizing a site. Hopefully, that’s the case, but I don’t just blog to blog. Similarly, I don’t just reflect to reflect. It serves a purpose. It moves me toward action. It’s both/and.
So yes, the tension exists, but one fuels and feeds the other. Action begs reflection. And reflection begs action. Like so much in life, it’s definitely both/and.
We’ll finish up the leadership “retreat” tomorrow at lunch. In order to lessen their tension somewhat, I’ll move out of my comfort zone and into theirs: I’ll push toward action – but not without the awareness (and undoubtedly preaching) that the high-altitude has been what’s enabled deliberate, intentional, and well-planned action. And it’s my hope that as they step out boldly in new and innovative directions, that they’ll periodically stop to reflect. It’s both/and.
But that’s tomorrow. I do know when to draw the line on my processing, my thinking, my ongoing, meandering thoughts. I’m still tired. It’s late. And I now need to stop reflecting, take action, and go to sleep. No more both/and. Just actions. Hit “publish.” Close the laptop. Turn off the light. GO TO SLEEP!
Undoubtedly, even more processing will continue in my dreams.
It’s true: I am impossible to stop! Maybe processing is my action. Ooooh. I like the sound of that! On that note, I can definitely act…and stop typing…for now. Good night.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You make me smile.
.-= Dani´s last blog ..I Did It! =-.
ah yes i’m a chronic thinker, i like the security that comes from having the time to *really* think my way through something, to decide on the best course of action. however i’m a brutal procrastinator, and often fail to act for whatever reason because i hide behind thinking. its a bit of a mixed blessing really!
however (again?!) i was reading your post ‘I’m good, thanks.” and i was reminded of a moment whilst i was doing some youthwork volutneering and your talk of being flexible whilst holding your ground rung very true for me. The need to stick to your guns but be able to repaint any picture in a number of way is vital when communicating to people who currently can’t see what you’re seeing, which brings me back to this post.
consider action and thinking as a kind of card game. if you’ve time to see what everyone is playing before you, then you’ve time to consider the cards you’ve got and play the best hand right? however if you’re playing first you just have to play with your best hand and maybe you’ll have an impact on the other players?
At this retreat surely your lack of action on the first 2 days will have undoubtedly forced the participants into thinking which they might not have “why is she doing this,” when are we going to do something?” etc so to go back to my card player metaphor, you’ve played a strange hand first, (like a bluff i guess?) and its making everyone think. perhaps tomorrow (well i’m guessing this was some time ago) you’ll be giving them a chance to play their hands, but with the hope they’ll do it differently having seen yours first?
.-= Paddy´s last blog ..Periferite: starting today with a new blog to read from @ronnadetrick http://bit.ly/KFdGO this post about blogging when you wanna talk about everything! =-.
Mmmm. Thanks so much for your comments! The card-playing metaphor is a good one and, in any good game, there are times when you fold, times when you play cautiously, times when you keep raising the stakes. The challenge is knowing and finding the balance. For me, this ongoing interplay of thinking vs action is less of a tension and more of a challenge – some times with higher stakes than others – but in this particular situation, a win-win!!
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