If it is true for me, does it have to be true for you too?

Colleagues,

MVP: People in the same organization may be experiencing very different levels of stress.

We are in an age when our systems are consistently under stress. Last week I was working with an organization being pressured on all fronts – over regulated, under resourced, with increasing needs for its services but diminishing support from the state.

During the training I wanted people to have their stress and emotions validated in a way that provided them deeper understanding as to why they felt as they did. There is no easy fix for their situation, but the more we can understand a thing, the better equipped we are to deal with it.

So, we looked at the six dimensions of organizations and how misalignment between people, purpose, structures, and resources created stress.

We also discussed how to quantify that stress based on the degree of turbulence (see image).

I go into this more deeply in today’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast, but here is the takeaway I want to share with you…

Within the same organization, different people are experiencing different levels of turbulence.

Please do not assume that everyone feels the same stress you do. Watch, listen, and then respond appropriately. Note that people experiencing extreme turbulence have very little capacity to engage in change initiatives.

Today’s intention: Consider printing and posting the image of turbulence and using it to reflect on where people in your organization might be. Consider sharing it to develop some common language.

Cheers!

​Frederick