The dreaded “C” word

No, not cancer and not covid.        The dreaded word is constraint.

COVID-19 has dramatically shaped our reality. It’s up to each of us to design an empowering relationship to the current, real, even threatening, constraints.

In support of creating this relationship, please consider my offer at the end of this blog.

So … what is your relationship with constraints? Are you talking? Getting along?

This question begins the 13-minute TEDTalk, Creativity in a Constrained World, by Mark Barden, co-author of A Beautiful Constraint: How To Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, and Why It’s Everyone’s Business.

The authors propose that we can make a constraint beautiful by change in 3 areas:

1.We must move from a victim to a transformer mindset. A victim mindset uses flawed strategies like avoidance (“we can’t”) and reduction (“why would we want to”). Conversely, a transformer mindset counters with “this constraint could catalyze arrival at a better solution” or “what constraints should we impose on ourselves to stimulate new possibilities.” A mindset intent on breaking path dependence to “the way things are done” must also occur if we hope to make constraints beautiful.

2. We need to change our method, the authors show how to ask propelling questions that “bind a bold ambition to a significant constraint” with specificity, legitimacy and authority. We then answer those propelling questions by starting each sentence with “we can if…” and using overlooked resources (e.g., collaborating with people who share our values; collaborating with competitors; using customer’s resources) to create abundance where everyone else sees scarcity.

3. Finally, the authors discuss how to activate those emotions that will change our motivation and desire to make every constraint beautiful. Specifically, they assert that “the science suggests we should spend time indulging in the fantasy of success and dwelling on the realities of what failure would feel like because the tension between them prompts us to make a plan and act on it more than positive thinking alone.”

My blog M.O. is to invite, encourage, recommend, suggest – not request. Why? You and I don’t have a committed relationship – we have an invitational relationship.  A relationship for which I am very grateful.

With that said, I strongly recommended you watch author Barden’s TEDTalk, and take action in the 3 areas to change.  My strong recommendation comes from my uber commitment to your success as we shelter-in-place, file for unemployment, suspend contracts and deal with a 1,001 personal and professional concerns that are COVID19-related.

By asking and answering the question — What’s my relationship to constraints? — you and your colleagues can begin to craft a consciously-authored relationship to constraints that will serve you now — and you can do as you shelter in place. Plus, … wait for it … reframing your relationship to constraints that has the possibility of creating a breakthrough for the future of your performance and the success of your organization.  This won’t be the last constraint you don’t have control over.

My Offer. At no cost to you, I offer to virtually host and facilitate your team having this conversation in an online collaborative space.  Interested? Just whistle.

I’d love to hear from you. Social distancing does not mean social disconnecting.

Be responsible. Be well.  Camille

PS: I am successfully working with distributed teams via an online collaborative platform. Check it out.