I don’t believe that I have many obstacles in my life.
An obstacle is something that hinders progress, that stops forward momentum, that blocks the way. Obstacles need to be worked around. No, what I encounter are issues. Issues are topics for debate, discussion, and, ultimately, resolution. It’s a nuanced difference, but that nuance is important. Obstacles don’t beg for a resolution; instead they require people to work around them so that they don’t arrest progress, but instead just stall it briefly as people try to find a workaround. Obstacles don’t have to be permanent, but if they are not circumvented properly more obstacles tend to get in the way as the path forward becomes pockmarked with half-measures and adequate solutions. Sure, the job got done, but how well? No, I much prefer to engage with issues than obstacles. I like the idea that there are solutions to that which ceases progress. Solutions are viable and thoughtful and transferable. Solutions mean that the issue has been rectified and if that issue comes up again there is already a full measure in place. Maybe that solution becomes the new norm for the situation and eradicates the need for doing things the way that initially required a solution to begin with! Issues push us to be creative and think outside of the box. They necessitate innovation and exploration. Issues force us to be reflective and to refresh our practice, whatever that may be. Issues, while irksome, can be of great benefit when approached openly. Obstacles are sources of frustration that we often encounter again and again, jumping through various hoops to avoid the problem as best we can. Obstacles are a point of contention rather than something that begs for a lasting solution. So what about in at work? You know that there is generally somebody in a meeting who is always willing to throw obstacle after obstacle in front of a group. Those hiccups in a meeting are frustrating; progress is slowed and a goodly portion of the meeting is used to “discuss” a troublesome student, a negligent administrator, or a new policy or procedure that gets in the way. At times it may be all of these things all at once. What is worse than the stopped progress is that it also gives the person who comes with issues, but not solutions a reputation for such. Water cooler talk happens and then people become more and more attuned to the person, which gives them an audience while the real issue is not addressed. A solution is needed. I contend that the problem is relatively easy to resolve: give them a place to air their grievances. However, that time is not during the meeting. Create a parking lot in the agenda in which everyone can contribute their own issues so that they can be discussed, debated, and resolved by a group of forward thinking people prepared for the task and given a set amount of time to do so. Sometimes the simple act of voicing an opinion or being given a place to share a frustration is all that is needed and, once it is out, the person feels heard and validated. If they need more than that, they are given a time and place to try and find a solution to what is now an issue rather than an obstacle. Anything that is not a part of that particular agenda becomes moved to the following meeting, where solutions to the issues can be presented. Consider these scenarios:
In the first scenario the obstacle is that two students can’t be photographed and cannot be a part of the picture. To avoid the obstacle, you leave the students out of it and photograph the rest of the group without them. In doing so you’ve let the student know that they are the thing that must be worked around. To instead resolve the issue, you decide that this is an issue that must be solved. To solve the issue you make those students the photographers and caption writers. This solution is viable in the future, keeps the students engaged in the situation, and still allows you to accomplish your goal. In the second situation the obstacle is that parents are not present for the conferences and they are missing out on the chance to discuss their child’s progress who is struggling in class. While this is a problem there might be a resolution, even if only for the student. What do you think it could be? So what makes something an issue rather than an obstacle? Simple: it’s how you choose to engage with it. Do you let it be an immovable thing or do you find a way to make that instance work in your favor, both now and in the future?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Mr. HopperArchives
December 2018
|