The Sunday Note (TSN) from MGM (Montgomery, AL) is an email I write to share my reflective practice with you and invite YOU to share your reflections with your friends and family... 

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V.3 N.37 TSN from MGM "Words…but whose?"

Days 1,008-1,014

Hiya ,

It's tempting to talk. It's easy.

Leaders are supposed to do it. You'll see them often; they're up there on a stage, in front of a room, about to send another email. They are in a spot to share. Their stories. Their wins. Their failures. 

We actually reward them for sharing. For telling. For talking. For writing. 

Motivational, Coaching, Leadership, Executive…there are so many "kinds" of talking one can do. Which ones have you done lately? And which ones have you heard? If you played "leader-speak BINGO" tomorrow, how quickly would you yell... "BINGO!"? 

Consider what people do with the microphone when they DO get it:

• Tell a story. 
• Share a hardship. 
• Confess about doing something, getting it wrong. 
• Talk about how the team came together to get things right. 

I'm a leader. And, I do this. In fact, I am rewarded for it. Well. I mean, I get a check…every two weeks to do it. To talk. To tell. To share what I see, how I see it, and what it means to me.

To me... that's important.

To me, that is.

Here's my question to us all…what happens when I'm talking? While words fall out of my mouth toward their ears, what are their minds and hearts doing? When what I write meets their eyes and brains, what are they... DOING?

"Doing."

How are they while I'm up on stage? On the other side of the podcast mic? Or, in front of the camera? While I'm nervously/anxiously sharing one of my stories - hoping I'm "getting it right" - how are they being? How are they as humans... BEING?

"Being."

So what? What's the point? What is THEIR "So that…" to MY "Because of…"? Given the opportunity and a microphone, as soon as I'm finished talking up to my time, under my time, or (the worst!) over my time, what do they have? Maybe they listened. Perhaps they wrote something in their notes. What can they say they now... HAVE?

"Have."

Do…Be…Have

Journal on that for a moment. Or five minutes. Or over a couple of pages, over a couple of days. 

Words. Sentences. Paragraphs. Entire speeches. A book. 

The title of today's note is "Words. But, whose?" 

There come times in our lives where we have heard enough…about that…for now—listening to another leader. Tell another story. Sharing where they got it right or wrong. 

I feel it when I'm hearing another version of something like:

"I was unprepared. 

Tragedy hit. 

I survived. 

I'm here to say you can do it."

1. What is the saturation point?
2. At what time does hearing another one of those stories stop helping?
3. And... AT that point, what can we as leaders do? 

I've practiced a new-to-me concept over the past three months in every event I lead. I have repeatedly put myself to the test, and the preliminary (objective, qualitative, non-empirical results, of course!) findings are fascinating.

"I'm talking as little as possible; in fact, I'm under sharing. I intend to tell as LITTLE of a story [concept, idea, situation, etc.] as possible. To use as few of MY words as I can so that...

...so that they can use theirs.

So that they can reflect on:

Their position.

Their situation.

Their interpretation.

As your leader, I need to find a way to get you to put yourself into a version of the topic we're studying. I don't need to give you all the details about what MY journey was like; no, I need to provide you with just enough of my words to get you thinking in your words.

There comes the point when you need to hear a version of the words you need to hear in YOUR words.

In your words.

Much love,

JW

PS: I'm gonna host a Zoom on this concept of "talk less, listen more" in Early January. I'll share that date in a couple of weeks.

(Hey, if you're on the Marco Polo app, send a hello my way! Mobile# 805-798-1362 )

How did The Note* from MGM (Montgomery, AL) begin?

After being here for just less than a week, I opened up my email to send a note to my family in friends in California and beyond. Jodi was on her way to join me here, so I took some time to reflect on this significant life decision/change I had initiated. That Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, I sent an email at 9:38 pm (or, as I was beginning to learn: 2138). Here's how it started:

Today was my first day as an employee of the United States Air Force. And, I am bold enough to say I've never been prouder or more excited to serve a community.

Though I "moved" to Alabama last Wednesday [Jodi plans to be here Monday], I went to my New Employee Orientation just today. The 90-minute briefing culminated in me taking the Oath:

"I, Jason Womack, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well; and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

At the same time, I felt pride, Honor, and a hefty dose of responsibility. I'm helping leaders on a grand scale.

*The following Sunday, and many subsequent Sundays!, I've sent a note to my family and friends. Thanks for reading, and gratitude (more!) for clicking reply and letting me know what YOU'RE reflecting on!