Snowstorm FAIL

In the Washington Post 12/27 article Buffalo’s no stranger to snow. Why was the storm so deadly? there’s some really tragic information.

28 People died as a result of the storm.
A significant number of people were stuck in their cars.
27% of people in Buffalo live in poverty.
It happened on a Friday, payday.
The travel ban was announced just before 9am, which means people were already in their cars on their way to work. An advisory had been issued prior to this, but many people spoke up, saying unless its a full-out travel ban, employers would expect attendance.

By no means is this an inclusive list of reasons 28 people died. However it is clear, people were forced to be in harm’s way when they had no options to choose otherwise.

I’m drawn to the impossible situation that government officials created— citizens were expected to do something that COULD NOT BE DONE— how would they be prepared if they were also expected to proceed to work? On Thursday, the day before the storm, County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced this may be a once in a lifetime weather event. Snowplows would not be working if there’s zero visibility.

WHAT was expected of the people of Buffalo? Without a travel ban, people were not given an opportunity to do ANYTHING to prepare. Frankly, in hindsight, it sounds like Poloncarz was merely informing people of the suffering they would have to endure.

I’ve read there are a lot of issues Buffalo did not address, including minimal warming stations, short staffed government positions… etc… but the reality to me is, if you put people in untenable positions, they will break. They will die. We can do better.

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Way back in art school I was given an assignment to document how to perform a task. I illustrated how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I distinctly remember my discomfort once I presented my work. I thought I’d captured all the steps perfectly and there’d be nothing to discuss. Then the professor asked: What order is better, should you first spread or the peanut butter or the jelly?

A lively conversation ensued, and I grimaced. Did I get this wrong? This feels really useless, who cares? Why explore something SO inconsequential?
——-
When I woke up this morning and made my daughter a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for her lunchbox, I realized something that’s been missing from that story for 20 years… there IS NO RIGHT ANSWER. Other than the obvious non-negotiables, like the sun rising in the morning, or needing oxygen to breather, life is pretty much about autonomy. Sure, you need to show up to work— there’s an expectation you’re there because you have an agreement with your employer— but you CHOOSE to show up and respect that commitment. It’s not written in stone that you’ll fulfill your obligations. it’s a choice.

The stress I felt during our class discussion was totally unwarranted. I arbitrarily decided the topic should not be discussed, and I was totally wrong. Seriously, what is the harm in talking about how to make a pb&j?

So often what feels like a problem, especially a roadblock in your head, is merely a stop sign that pops up when you’re feeing unsure. How about feeling frustration triggers a different thought— it’s time to stop, take a moment to pause and reflect. Wouldn’t that be so much more productive?

I overlooked the opportunity to have a conversation. To explore possibilities. I saw this as a box to check, rather than an invitation to explore.

Runners don’t touch the finish line gingerly with their big toe when they arrive; they push hard and sprint through past the end of the race. Give permission to yourself to use energy, have discussions, explore possibilities. Yes, sometimes done IS done, but don’t leave stones unturned.

If you want to rehash myriad ways one could look at how to make a pb&j sandwich… or discuss how to creatively look at your own life’s work, email me and let’s talk.

How Are You Feeling?

Have you given thought to Emotional Intelligence? It’s how you manage and process your feelings, and how you relate to other people’s emotions as well.

I’ve always been amazed by the tacit corporate rule that you don’t show feelings in business. How do humans create an on/off switch to control their innate behaviors? (Short answer… and long answer: they don’t!) Since we live in the same bodies 24/7, how about we acknowledge we feel feelings? I mean, if you try to disagree, then you’d say… We don’t feel feelings? Sorry, that’s not an option. So let’s all agree we do.

What we can choose is how we process our feelings and how we engage with people around us. TIME posted an article Why Emotional Intelligence Is Needed More Than Ever at Work that reads like a breath of fresh air. Johnson & Johnson recognized sales slipping when their employees did not engage respectfully with customers (sales people playing on phones while visiting doctors’ offices? Showing up during medical procedures? Ick.)

Johnson & Johnson turned to outside assistance and had an app designed to educate their sales people. Which makes sense, because this is tricky— how to you navigate telling people they’re not sensitive enough to both their own emotions and their surroundings… especially when it’s clear the impetus to create change came from decreased sales numbers? Sounds a little insensitive when it’s framed that way!

How about we think about emotional intelligence as a skill for well-rounded people, both inside and outside the business world?

If the up-side to having this skill is better relationships and more self awareness, that’s an all-around win. I see it as an opportunity to improve familial interactions as well as more broadly in the greater community. Empathy can make us more curious about how other people experience the same environment we share. This can lead to wholistic thinking about creating more valuable shared space. (It sounds a little pie-in-the-sky, but also genuinely do-able. Thing big, start small! If you’re interested in more self awareness on an individual level, there are apps for you— I have no horse in this race, no money to gain) but I can attest, this is pretty great— Noom Mood.)

Sometimes the first step is the most impressive- give this a try. Take a moment, pause to hear how someone feels (that includes yourself!) Perhaps you’ll feel a little something you hadn’t before.

Just a moment today. Stop and listen.

Man or Machine?

How often do you think—’I should have accomplished more’?
Are you devaluing what you DID get done, just because you maybe could have squeezed in little additional work?

Take a moment to think of a recent situation when you questioned your output. When you felt like you’d missed an opportunity to check off another item on your To Do list. Here’s my big question: Did you consider HOW you were going to achieve that?

Productivity is a lot about the HOW and not so much about the end results. (Don’t get me wrong, end results are awesome, but you need to focus on the HOW to get to the end.)

We are humans, not machines. Too often we look at output, not process, and decide we can achieve more. What we need to remember is we’re working with a body, not a computer program.

It’s crucial to recognize we need to start with a reasonable plan and check in with ourselves—is it do-able?
Or are we asking ourselves to behave robotically (remind yourself, you’re a human not a robot).

Don’t forget— all people are humans. Remember we are ALL working with their mortal bodies, making good and not so good decisions. Sometimes it’s best to just think ‘oh yea, they’re working with what they’ve got’… maybe that’s the top of their current game. Maybe that’s the current MAX setting for that human.
They aren’t, and won’t become… a robot.

Grab that apple

In the “Bloomberg Prognosis” newsletter, there’s an article that totally disappoints me: Does My Positive Home Test Get Tracked? 

There’s no consistency in tracking at home Covid  tests that are positive– and it’s known that people are willing to share their results. 

You know what would be great right now? Creating a system to track tests and results so we are more prepared for future outbreaks. The best way to do better in the future is to prepare! (I can’t help but think I’m stating the obvious.) 

It seems bizarre to me that there’s plenty of evidence that planning is kind of EVERYTHING.

I googled “Why planning is important” and the internet provides a veritable overflowing cornucopia of links.  I chose a random site and they have a great top 10 list. 

Look at this! Planning helps you:

• Set appropriate goals

• Breaks down a problem or goal into smaller pieces

• Reveals weaknesses and strengths

• Increases certainty and confidence

• Increases efficiency

• Reduces risk

• Increases credibility

• Encourages creativity

• Improves decision making

So, by not using data we have at hand, we’re leaving ALL THIS on the table. Isn’t it tragic that our country has, comparatively, one of the largest coffers of money and can’t make use of information that’s basically hanging off trees like ripe apples? 

Laziness? Disorganization? Bipartisanship? I can’t begin to think of where the blame lies. I just know I never want to behave like this– turning my back on useful information is reprehensible. 

Do you feel the same? Let’s work together to avoid missed opportunities of all sizes.

Let’s talk.

Highlight This

Have you experienced the joy of shopping in an independently owned office supply store? If you can remember… there’s a magic to it. You never knew what you’d find. There’d likely be a pen, an eraser, a notebook that caught your eye and it basically begged to be touched, and purchased. 

Alas, we now live in the world of mega-chain office supply stores. All the joy of shopping has been drained from the aisles.

Why?

Because the chain stores choose what goes on their shelves based on data.  It’s all about the numbers. They’re not aficionados of office supplies; there’s no room for serendipity. Customer experience is like a thorn in their side. I imagine they think of their customers like robots, because chain stores sucked the fun of shopping right out of the shopping experience. 

You can’t pick from several brands because Staples limited the selection to what will make the most money for Staples. It’s the same for Home Depot. In my mind, the worst offender was The Sports Authority– they had so little to choose from in their stores I imagined they might be laundering money and their retail model was a front for back room shenanigans. 

Here’s a breath of fresh air from someone in the AI industry.  From Forbes’ website, here’s Design Thinking And Data: The New Power Couple Of 2022 by Carlos Melendez. He works at Wovenware, an artificial intelligence and software development company.

Melendez says you need to consider ALL the stakeholders. He’s pointing out we are designing for humans. Isn’t it ironic, we’ve been human for as long as we’ve been… er… human and yet somehow we forget to design for people? Data isn’t a stakeholder! People are! [My eyes are rolling heavenward. I can’t believe this needs to be said. But it does!]

Here’s how Melendez says it: 

Technology is simply a tool that ultimately improves the human experience, so start with the human experience and work toward the solution. This year, this line of thinking will increasingly become more and more evident and data will become aligned with design to drive innovation — not for the sake of innovation, but for the sake of improved human experiences. 

Wondering how I can reach the powers that be at Staples HQ, because I think they should internalize this message. “Improved human experiences” should be a universal goal… we deserve it. Even when we shop for office supplies. [Because we’re humans.]

Are you wondering how to better connect to your work and the people around you? Try me!

Less IS More (Sometimes)

Reading your inbox is such a snooze but if you can keep one eye open, and reading, there are little gems to be found.

I was skimming through an newsletter from IDEO (the #1 source when it comes to thinking creatively in the workplace, they have great intro courses on demand) and my eyes latched on to the title of this article they linked to— When Subtraction Adds Value from HBR.

Basically, we humans like to find new and more, rather than winnow down and do less.

Add a new feature! Create a new law!
Instead…how about removing a law?

Or get rid of redundancy—no longer generate text AND email AND phone call appointment reminders?

The article details a study where people were offered a grid with color blocks that were asymmetrical and asked them to create symmetry in as few steps as possible. People chose to ADD color to accomplish the task, not remove color (and removing color would’ve been far less steps).

It’s so easy to move forward by creating more— it’s really difficult to think about doing less.

If I read one less news article in the morning I’d get started on my work faster. I’d probably be just as informed.
It’s a great idea in theory, but I’m not sure I can follow through. At least now I’m a little more critical of my choices.

Do you have action steps that have a few too many steps? I’m happy to hear where you’re struggling, get in touch! Really! Get in touch.

One step to Buy-In

Do you like drinking coffee from a mug with a handle?

Let’s take a poll!

Seriously, does anyone really care about your preference? What’s the value of your opinion? Don’t you feel like it’s in one ear and out the other?

Here’s something beautiful– you can tweak the plain-old opinion poll and get additional value. I love this article: Inside Renault’s Community-Driven Approach to Innovation by Dirk Deichmann, Thomas Gillier, and Marco Tonellato (and yeah, I do love it, and yes, the title is sleep-inducing.
The car company Renault has internal polls to assess which design ideas the employees like.

And then. THEN! They’re asked if they’re interested in volunteering to work on the ideas they like.

BUY-IN is SO important. Ask me which girl scout cookie I like, I’ll answer without thinking about it. If you will expect me to consume a box of my favorite flavor, I’m so much more likely to give you a thoughtful answer.

Opinion polls, kind of throw-away. Get people to have vested interest… that’s gold.

Let’s think for a minute how this can work for you. 

Simple works best, yes? Let’s go with “Do you like my sweater?” Ask a co-worker and they’ll give you an answer, but they may have barely looked before they responded. 

Re-worded, let’s ask again: “I’m thinking of buying this sweater for you, do you like it?” Oh, jeez. Whatever flashes over their face is the answer, don’t trust the words out of their mouth. You just asked them to imagine themselves in the sweater, that’s buy-in!

Personal connection is ev-ery-thing.

Are you wondering how to better connect to your work and the people around you? Try me!

Know Your Why

When I was helping someone yesterday I had an epiphany. (Ideal situation, right? Win, win!) 

Let me set the scene-- we were discussing how to create a great survey.

A great survey is succinct— makes it quick and easy to fill out. Paring down your words takes a lot of effort! While you’re looking to find the essence of what you’re trying to say, there’s a little ‘how do I feel about making these edits’ kind of thing. It feels good to use less words to get to the point. I think in some regard you are gaining the respect of your audience-- you’re not wasting their time and energy. 

Later that day…I had an ‘aha!’ moment. I saw an Instagram from a wholesale show I used to do (I once sold products I’d designed to stores like Whole Foods and museums, including The Smithsonian and the Whitney Museum). The caption read ‘Let me know if you’re walking the aisles of IGES, I’d love to see you there!’ (details irrelevant, just catch the tone-- perky and alludes to #FOMO, our eternal fear of missing out.)

That’s when I remembered-- selling wholesale always means you’re using your products to chase the approval of the market.

I had great relationships with my buyers. I really enjoyed selling what I’d designed and it was exciting to see people buying MY designs all over the world. But in the end, I was dependent on the taste and pricing of the moment. And my success depended on volume, so I needed to make and sell large quantities of products in order to create income and maintain brand value. So very not...me.

Helping someone hone their product is MY why. Working with someone else to increase their value is a thrill that global product sales can’t compete with. My motivation is to the personal connection--making someone else a better them.

If you’re stuck, on anything, I can give you a tip or two from my back pocket. Try me.

What Creative Problem Solving Feels Like. Literally.

You’re in the doctor’s office waiting room. It is some version of beige. There’s art on the wall that may have to do with the doctor’s practice, or maybe it’s a framed poster of a landscape. The TV is on either a news channel or a talk show. 

The environment isn’t bad, but it’s not comfortable. There’s nothing particularly offensive; neither is there anything to make you feel relaxed. It’s almost like the room gives you low level stress because it’s so bland.

Wouldn’t you prefer to feel welcomed when you walk into the doctor’s office? Would it be impossible to feel that way? Of course not-- it’s because no one has made the effort. This is such an easy example, such low hanging fruit.

The wall color doesn’t have to be institutional beige. The lighting could be warm white, instead of harsh fluorescent daylight. How about artwork on the wall that feels current, deliberate, instead of something from the last century. Perhaps the magazines are arranged in a thoughtful way instead of strewn around the side tables. Something I’d really love is a box of normal (not institutional sandpaper) tissues. This newly imagined waiting room is easing my mind already!

Consider this— ‘design’ is not always something you can point to. It’s sometimes not a thing, it’s an action. You can broaden the idea of a welcoming environment-- consider the experience you have when you’re calling the doctor’s office. Is there generic hold music and a rushed, and a slightly annoyed receptionist booking your appointment?

Could we tweak it just a little so the music isn’t tinny and abrasive? What if office staff are reminded-- ‘we want everyone to feel cared for, including patients who call for appointments?’

Design is about what the users want and need. Everyone, including the office staff, doctors and nurses, and patients, need to be considered when we think about what’s best. If we do, think of how much happier we all could be!

I’ll bet you’d like to soothe the rough patches in your environment. Let’s talk about it! Try me.

Think about the animals (they’re you’re friends, right?)

I have a passion for gardening. Specifically, native plants. That could set off alarm bells for some readers (is this going to be preachy? Will this be educational?) Preachy? No. Educational... heck yeah! That’s what we’re here for!

What’s the big whoop about native plants? Wait for it...they support native wildlife. If we flip the scenario around, replace native plants with non-natives, what will the animals eat?

Sure you think you’re cultured, but if I brought you to the native Inuit and you sat down to a meal of seal blubber, you’d need to acclimate for a bit before you’d find the meal appealing. (If you’re native Inuit and reading this, kudos for you for having a varied diet!) And, don’t forget, Inuit eat seal blubber for the specific properties that help humans cope with the harsh winter environment. 

So now think about the animals in your neighborhood looking at a foreign food source. We all can imagine their animal brains and bodies are not as cultured as ours. They’re not cool with having new foreign-to-them food. (By the way, humans love plants that don’t get eaten. What beautiful untouched ornamentals we’ve planted! But if it’s not getting eaten, that plant doesn’t...belong in our environment. Mind blown? I have to admit, every time I hear it, mine is.)

Here’s where I point out the connection between non native plants and your ideas. Some ideas are great-- but they don’t belong. When you have a problem and just snap to a solution… take a moment to think if it really fits your environment. Perhaps you need to keep looking (and thinking) until a solution appears that fits better. Takes some time to find yourself a solution you can feed off of. Not an ornamental band-aid but a real keeper.

PS In the native plant world there’s a phrase that I love (and I think you will too) RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT PLACE. Plants will thrive if you put it in the environment it is meant to be in.

Has some similarities to answers, eh? I think so. Right answer, right place.

If you’d like to see how this fits in to your ecosystem Try me.

This Is Where Hot Topics Go

My first Hot Topic is coming so soon be prepared not to blink— you might miss seeing it post. Keep your eyes open.

Photo by Daniil Kuželev on Unsplash