{"id":2328,"date":"2020-10-31T22:05:09","date_gmt":"2020-10-31T22:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=2328"},"modified":"2022-08-07T16:36:47","modified_gmt":"2022-08-07T20:36:47","slug":"backward-and-incomplete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2bgreener.com\/?p=2328","title":{"rendered":"Backward and Incomplete"},"content":{"rendered":"

I say we often do things in a way that is backward and incomplete.<\/p>\n

What I mean is that we don\u2019t slow down enough to understand, as a group, why we are working on a project, or what is important about the work. We don\u2019t even slow down enough to make sure we are including the needed people, perspectives, and knowledge. It may be fairly easy to point to the value in a completed project, but I can tell you the value will be amplified if the goal-set defines the values you seek from the start.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s like magic – intentional crafting of knowledge access beyond the normal.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Recently this has come to the foreground in everything including my day job, work at the state level, and work in a couple of volunteer groups I\u2019m engaged in. All of a sudden, the need to define Core Principles has become clear.<\/strong> I was recently asked if I had a template or any guidance on how to define core principles. So I did a quick google search, which I often do, and I did not find anything<\/em> that was simple or complete. I found some examples that touted a list of qualities the companies called<\/em> core principles, but these were statements such as \u201cintegrity\u201d and \u201cinnovation\u201d, written bold and in pretty fonts; These are more personality traits than anything else, and certainly not defining the kernel of truth for the specific work at hand.<\/p>\n

I am now called to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys, rather) and define Core Principles, and provide some useful guidance as to how to develop them.<\/p>\n

First, we can make our current processes a bit more accepting of the idea of Core Principles by the small tweak of making introductions useful. Begin a meeting to highlight the skills that can and should inform the work. \u201cHI,\u00a0 <\/span>My name is Jodi, and I am passionate about Nature in the space and about embodied carbon and how to reduce it.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>This is very different than \u201cHi, I\u2019m Jodi, Director of Sustainability Programs for a NY state authority, and an architect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or try introductions that call for each person to state the ONE THING they hope this project accomplishes – \u201cHi, I\u2019m Jodi, and I really want this project to be an example of carbon reductions that we can share with all state entities to inspire their work.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Or even more simple, such as \u201dTell us your name, and why you are here,\u201d or\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTell us why you think we need to do this thing we are going to do? Why do you think this project is valuable?\u201d<\/p>\n

When have you ever started a project with this level of clarity?<\/strong> Even this small change to your meetings will start to activate an awareness of the project\u2019s place in the world, and the impact the individuals can have on the work.<\/p>\n

Next comes the real change. The work to discover the foundational project truths that should inform all of the ensuing work of the team, the Core Principles. This is a list of simple ideas that each rendition of the progress can be reviewed against to make sure you\u2019re on track to achieve what you need to achieve. In most cases, these principles will do two seemingly contradictory things 1) keep the focus tight and right and 2) keep the awareness of co-benefits and co-burdens active. It\u2019s like magic – intentional crafting of knowledge access beyond the normal.<\/p>\n

How do we do this?<\/p>\n

Reality #1 – The first step is to recognize that this will take some time.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Go slow. Learn from Nature and recognize that the nutrients (greater knowledge) will only penetrate the soils (project) if the river (the process) is burbling over rocks, meandering slowly, and taking curves to help nutrient flow into the soil.\u00a0 <\/span>So the first meeting, depending on number of people in the room, should be fully spent on the informative introductions, as in the examples above, and then on understanding the potential for the project.<\/p>\n