Implied on February 14 - if you give people time, they will innovate
Statement on March 1 - if you don't give people time, they cannot innovate
I think someone who approached this post with an organization's perspective would be best served by rereading it with the following in mind - an individual's strengths do not emerge as a simple function of passing time. In the case of a creative type, the way to bring the quality forward is by offering protected time, but other strengths will require a different tactical plan; you can lead a horse to water, but it won't drink unless its thirsty.
Implied on February 9 - soccer is popular because it's inclusive
Statement on March 1 - soccer is popular because other sports are exclusive
Exclusion is the existential threat to soccer's place atop the global sports popularity leaderboard, but the reality is that other sports are so far behind in this regard that it's unlikely they will be able to take advantage of a slip or two from the world's game. Those immersed in the insular culture of their own sports have a hard time grasping this reality, perhaps because they ignore simple questions such as "why was futsal invented in order to make use of a basketball court?" The fact is that even after all the infrastructure spending on hardwood, paint, and baskets, a five-a-side game that keeps the ball at the feet is more inclusive than the hands-on pioneer - the ball moves faster when it's impossible for one person to hold it for a few seconds at a time, unless of course you are headed for bigger things.
Implied on February 7 - if someone isn't good at accepting feedback, it's fruitless to offer them additional feedback
Statement on March 1 - feedback is a bit of a buzzword
I suspect most people have a narrow conception of feedback - it's a specific form or portion of a conversation - which is the sense I use the term in the above comments. I feel that this represents feedback as a kind of buzzword, and I think it would be helpful if people broadened their understanding of feedback to encompass the full range of how we communicate information.
It may be the case that a world where we respond to advice, instruction, or criticism with a salute and an "aye aye!" could be more productive, but anyone who has spent time with another human being will understand why this is an unrealistic expectation. From my experience, people respond differently depending on the manner of communication, and those who are interested in working out these specifics as it relates to every individual are the ones cut out for leadership - everyone else should spare themselves the hassle. If someone doesn't respond to a direct comment, try a different approach, like asking questions or inviting reactions to something outside the present discussion. For those who always know best, create ways to fail safely so that valuable "learning" mistakes are acquired at the lowest possible cost.
Implied on February 1 - the TOA newsletter is generally useless
Statement on March 1 - the TOA newsletter is always useless
Thanks for reading! See you in March.
