Leading Humans: A Messy Business?

I’ve been helping to clear up quite a lot of mess recently. Here are just 3 examples - some messier than others!

Jeanne’s bike and rucsac piled high with litter

1. On my regular bike ride, I was getting frustrated seeing so much litter in the countryside. So I decided to collect some and bin it at home.

2. As a Carer to an elderly friend, I found myself up to my elbows in human excrement when the clinical team on the ward didn’t have time to support her emptying her bowels in bed.

3. In my work with teams, I’ve been helping them untangle tricky misunderstandings, resolve frustrations, rebuild trust and deal with their differences more effectively.

Without care and attention, human needs, behaviour and interactions can become very messy very quickly. Perhaps unpleasant, harmful, distressing and even toxic.

Leading, supporting and inspiring other humans is a Messy Business. Over many years, l’ve learnt not to turn away from the Mess. I’ve learned the skills to understand the Mess, acknowledge it, enable conversations about it and coach leaders and their teams to navigate through it, together.

I don’t pretend we can clear all the Mess away. It has a habit of re-emerging and reinventing itself! Yet, coaching people and their teams to deal with their Mess in healthier, more human-centred ways is something I find worthwhile. And it’s part of the unique skillset I offer.

Not every person, group or team wishes to face the Mess of being human together. But for those who recognise the dangers of letting the Mess take hold, there’s a practical, tried-and-tested approach I support them through.

It’s called The Group Dynamic DeTox™ and you can find out more about it here

The Group Dynamic DeTox™ : A core skillset in the H.U.M.A.N. approach

I’m curious what kind of Human Mess you’re experiencing right now? And what would be possible if you learned healthier, even more effective ways through it?