The Energy of Shared Consciousness

Tonight we had our regular meeting and I will admit, I was tired.  I was tired and a little unmotivated.  I so wanted to "call in" tired.  I wanted to check out and take a nap.  I had already worked a full 9 hours, plus two hours of driving and even cooked a quick dinner.

But alas, I had an obligation and this is my program, after all.  I got on our video conference and admitted I was tired.  

Checking in

We always start with a check-in.  It's a technique I'd heard and read about years ago in coaching classes but thought it was too weird to do with my teams at work.  After a teaming class last fall, I decided to try it for certain meetings and I learned that it was useful.  Then we started working with some consultants and they explained more fully that the check-in served the purpose of becoming present for the meeting and I was hooked.  Our program participants and I now always check in and we love it.  We answer the question - what has our attention? Sometimes we're distracted and it's something else.  Sometimes we are fully present and announce that to the group.  It's completely without judgement. What it does is set us up as a team to understand what our present state is.  It allows us to put out to the universe and to the team where we are mentally and it sets us free from any thoughts that we're holding on to.  For those of us who practice mindfulness, it allows us to move on and be present.

As quickly as that, the first 10 minutes, I was energized.  I did most of the talking tonight, which I don't love. But this was a teaching day where I had to share the process with the team.  Not only did I get through it, I was energized and inspired.  I was able to talk through the what and the why (the why can get kind of mushy sometimes).  I am not totally comfortable with all of this yet since I am trying all of this for the first time.  But I was there and I felt inspired to share more and motivate the other ladies.

In his book, Team of Teams, General McChrystal talked about a shared consciousness.  It's basically how we function as a group in terms of our beliefs, ideas and attitudes.  

At the end of the meeting, we now do a closing round. Each team member shares how they feel at the end of the meeting.  We all shared that we felt focused and motivated. One team member shared that we validate that her goals are not silly and that there is potential in her interests.  

Miraculously, this is exactly where we should be.  We are kicking off the action part of our little project and everyone is feeling focused and motivated and there really isn't anything better than that.

Next for everyone is a plan to get started.  This week we all work on developing a plan and breaking that down into small, attainable tasks.  Each week going forward, we'll report on our progress, discuss what we've learned and then plan the next week.  

Read my previous post on the program pilot: Accountability Trumps Will-Power