Put me in coach

“Don’t say “it ain’t so”, you know the time is now.
Oh, put me in, Coach – I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach – I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be
Centerfield.”

— John Fogerty

Finding ways to connect in a human and meaningful way takes intention and some extra time — even when the group is working remotely, sometimes from different states and countries.

Before the pandemic, we were beginning to work globally across continents and time zones. It required us to change our patterns and habits along with the ways we found connections to build a relationship upon which our work and trust could rest.

More than five years ago, we were moving into flex time and remote working considerations, although at a glacial pace. Then, like being placed on a rocket ship, we were launched into the need to work differently. Many jobs require a hands-on presence, so a large percentage of the workforce continued their daily routine, but with many adjustments to ensure their safety. Jobs supported by technology could work remotely, and did so.

Some college graduates accepted jobs in new cities and found places to live from which they could work. I have examples of individuals who have never met their new manager or team in person.

To create a bond, foster clarity, and orient everyone to the mission, values, vision, and their roles takes a new kind of effort and on-going caring, and thoughtful touches. We had started to learn the importance of creating culture and relationships in our workplaces. Today, we are challenged to do this in a variety of different working models. While it is possible to foster trust, communicate, and resolve differences and connect everyone to the same culture, it requires us to be attentive, intentional, and use thoughtful ways to build bridges of understanding when distance is in the mix.

These questions are always in the front of my mind when thinking of my clients and colleagues — and when engaging in my schedule mixed with zoom calls and face-to-face meetings:

How am I connecting to other individuals, to the work, to the process?
Am I contributing in a meaningful way? How am I being received?
Does how I interact in the different mediums help? Hinder? Hurt?
Is this something that you are pondering?

I end my week’s schedule with a standing board meeting. This commitment convenes a group of volunteer board members in the work of their professional organization. I am new to this board and in the challenge and opportunity to contribute. But, I am in the ‘forming’ stage of my relationships with the other board members.

I was grateful to the new board chair, who, at this first meeting of the year, started with a ‘grabber’ question.’ I love using a ‘grabber question’ at the beginning of a meeting to help the group connect and let go of what each person was doing to be able to be present in a new meeting with new people.

Grabber questions can be simple. The one that was used in this meeting was “What is in your head and heart today?” Another good one is, “How are you feeling and what are you thinking in this moment?”

These kinds of questions help to ground the group and connect the individuals. The wise and experienced board chair used technology to capture our words and short statements that we typed into an app and then appeared on our screen in our many different locations. It was fun to see what was posted. It was reassuring to know that I was not the only one whose word was not necessarily positive or negative but very vulnerable and truthful.

I wanted to write a full sentence, but the app would not let me. I use too many words, always. This was a good way to express myself succinctly. I typed in “circus.” My week had been a circus with excitement, joy, sitting on the sidelines watching with concern the acrobatics of others in navigating some predictable missteps, lots of movement, and different performances of groups of people. I was not the ringleader in many situations. I was an observer, a listener, a convener, and caring person taking in all that was swirling around me — most of which was out of my control.

It was reassuring to see that other board members wrote words like: “adrift” and “overwhelmed.” And “optimistic” and “forward facing.” It was a collage of emotions and thoughts representative of the whole. It took a few minutes of our meeting time. Yet, it helped immensely to feel welcome and ready to pick up the responsibilities of this work.

Good group process is transferable to remote interactions and when using technology. This year I am going to continue my dedication to fostering vibrant working cultures and working relationships in both face-to-face settings and remotely. We can learn to connect, mentor, support, innovate, resolve conflicts, and so much more by making the effort to see each person, hear each person, and connect every individual to their work and working relationships.

Are you with me on this quest?
I want to hear what you are doing to deepen connections, operate within your organizations, and find ways to make remote working situations robust with individuals feeling engaged.

One of the contributing factors to my week of circus-like interactions was the news from the Gallup organization on Worldwide trends of engagement. Gallup reported that engagement levels were at a 10-year low. Yikes! I love to track data about behavioral trends. It frequently reinforces what I am witnessing firsthand and confirms for me the trends of movement within organizations and the need to lean into the situation.

When the board group asked me for clarification on the meaning behind my word circus, I shared that for the duration of the pandemic I could see cracks forming in organizations and relationships. I was concerned that cracks can become crevasses and negatively impact the morale and productivity of individuals, groups, and ultimately organizations. My week had been filled with the witnessing of the fabric of relationships and organization processes fraying. The word circus was meant to be a kind way to describe the tumult and danger of benign neglect, busyness taking it toll, numbness, and intentional use of force.

In my head, I was screaming, “Put me in coach!”.

Things do calm down. People do rally in a good way. Calmer heads intervene. And we rise.

This happens when we pause, reflect, and assert leader-like behaviors.

I have faith in people. We are basically good, well-intentioned, able to learn when we want to, and collectively can-do wondrous things together. We are also wounded, hopelessly flawed, and capable of hurting each other. I want to contribute and behave in a way that brings us together with our common purpose and in respectful ways that support the flourishing of organizations and individuals.

2025 is going to be a year of filling the cracks and championing the work of thoughtful leaders.