My leadership blog is all about helping current and emerging leaders learn how to transform difficult conversations and dysfunctional workplace relationships into positive and productive ones.
Relationships Define National Identity — Happy Canada Day?
First of all … Happy Canada Day!
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For my fellow Canadians, I hope you and your family and friends find a meaningful and enjoyable way to celebrate the day. For my American friends, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the largely positive and productive relationship our two nations share.
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Canada, like any country, can be viewed as one giant workplace. It’s the relationships amongst our citizens, groups and institutions that define who we are as a nation.
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And these relationships, just like any shared between two people, are in a constant state of flux. They ebb and flow along the continuum between complete dysfunction and discord at one end and maximum synergy and harmony at the other. Throughout our country’s history, there have been and continue to be those who suffer and those who prosper due to these relationships.
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If the overall state of our country is to continually move towards maximum synergy and harmony and reducing the gap between those who suffer and those who prosper, we need to do several things on a daily basis.
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We need to:
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Commit/re-commit to that goal
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Embrace non-judgement
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Engage our empathy and compassion
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Listen more than talk
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See things for what they are as told by the people who are experiencing them
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Keep our minds, hearts and the dialogue open
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Take action that honours ourselves and others
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Though I’m sure the following list is incomplete, there are several national conversations and relationships that seem to be in need of engaging/re-engaging in this mindset:
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The government and aboriginal peoples
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White and non-white people
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Environmentalists and industrialists
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Straight and LGBT people
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Legislative and judicial institutions
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Immigrants and non-immigrants
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Law enforcement and the black community
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Muslims and non-Muslims
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National security and democratic freedom groups
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It is not enough to say, “Why can’t we all just get along?”
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Relationships take work.
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Are we up for it, Canada?
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— Brie
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a.k.a. A privileged, straight, white man.
Blog Post
Relationships Define National Identity — Happy Canada Day?
First of all … Happy Canada Day!
/
For my fellow Canadians, I hope you and your family and friends find a meaningful and enjoyable way to celebrate the day. For my American friends, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the largely positive and productive relationship our two nations share.
/
Canada, like any country, can be viewed as one giant workplace. It’s the relationships amongst our citizens, groups and institutions that define who we are as a nation.
/
And these relationships, just like any shared between two people, are in a constant state of flux. They ebb and flow along the continuum between complete dysfunction and discord at one end and maximum synergy and harmony at the other. Throughout our country’s history, there have been and continue to be those who suffer and those who prosper due to these relationships.
/
If the overall state of our country is to continually move towards maximum synergy and harmony and reducing the gap between those who suffer and those who prosper, we need to do several things on a daily basis.
/
We need to:
/
-
Commit/re-commit to that goal
-
Embrace non-judgement
-
Engage our empathy and compassion
-
Listen more than talk
-
See things for what they are as told by the people who are experiencing them
-
Keep our minds, hearts and the dialogue open
-
Take action that honours ourselves and others
/
Though I’m sure the following list is incomplete, there are several national conversations and relationships that seem to be in need of engaging/re-engaging in this mindset:
/
-
The government and aboriginal peoples
-
White and non-white people
-
Environmentalists and industrialists
-
Straight and LGBT people
-
Legislative and judicial institutions
-
Immigrants and non-immigrants
-
Law enforcement and the black community
-
Muslims and non-Muslims
-
National security and democratic freedom groups
