Merry Christmas!

Colleagues,

My purpose in this week’s emails has been two-fold:

1. To help you find peace within your own family, most especially yourself.
2. To help you become a better leader who is both more empathetic but also more resilient.

 
Lesson 5 from Thanksgiving with a fractured family: We can accept that we do not control how others see their world. Or we can keep fighting.
 
When I talk politics with people who don’t mirror my beliefs, I only do so in the hopes of growing my own understanding of where our common ground is.
 
I will never be able to “convince” someone to see things my way. At the very best, I can help them respect me and understand why I have the views I have. The first step to gaining that respect is to give it by seeking understanding.
 
Caution: do not expect others to want to understand your views and do not seek to understand in hopes that it will be reciprocated. Seek to understand because that understanding will make you a better person.
 
I don’t remember having done a week of emails quite like this one’s. I don’t know if these have been helpful or not. If you feel strongly either way, I would appreciate hearing from you. I can serve you better when I know what has worked.
 
Like way too many families in the United States, mine has been fractured by politics and disagreement. At the same time, we have been reminded by loss and grief how important family is. As members of my extended family sought to find common ground or at least to move forward in a constructive way, I was reminded of five important lessons this week. I hope these lessons find meaning in both your personal and professional lives.

Today’s intention: Reflect on the week and think about how you can use what you’ve read as the holiday season continues to bring us into proximity of those we love but who we may not agree with.

Cheers!

Frederick