I have been working on a new idea for different communities within a company. If one believes in the concept as I do, there is little need to explain “why”. From my perspective, the answer comes easily. What we are doing today is not working. Instead of moving forward we are drifting. We need something that will bring us together. The new idea I describe focuses on the “what” and the “how”.
The first series of presentations raised a question I did not anticipate; Why?
I could talk to the answer. As I did, I realized that most were not hearing what I was trying to say. The more I talked, the more pages I used, the less that they understood. As I worked to bring the key points out, I found that the number of pages began to shrink. The message became simple, to the point, and neutral. My working premise is not two-fold. We do not have a shared way to talk and work with each other. We should. Here is my proposal.
When I hear truth-filled advice, it is often simple and direct. I get it. I may not like it but I know that I am hearing words and their meaning that echo truth. When someone says, “Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor;” (Psalm 15.3) I know I have a mantra that I can carry with me. It is useful. It is helpful. It is something I understand. It fits within my story.
There is a unique wonder in simple messages that tell more. Great art, wonderful stories, and truth mingle in a way that etches our hearts. For me, the awareness of the power of simplicity comes in silence and reflection. For others, it may be quite different. Regardless of the where and the how, it is the crux of how we approach life that is important. For many, myself included, we are missing something. Our journey includes a search for the missing. Life will guide us. We may be surprised that the answer is less yet more.
