A Virtual Micro-class
The Power of a Positive No
This time for women in particular!
Tuesdays, October 3 & 10 at 11 am pacific
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It’s an honor and joy teaching leadership and communication to remarkable students in the MBA and Interaction Design programs at California College of the Arts. Each class concept is grounded in students practicing new communicative behaviors IRL. We trouble shoot the tension/tugs between our communication intentions and the mix-ups and misunderstandings that can happen at work, home and play.
Creative communication is the door to designing your own communication style, standards and system.
One day in class I thought naming what we were no longer willing to tolerate might be helpful. The students spontaneously formed small groups focusing on five different categories of what they were done with. We spent 15 minutes, if that, on this rapid fire, no-frills exercise. Identify what bugs, annoys, depletes energy, gets in your way. What are you so over?
We did this not because the new year insists on fresh directives but because by clearing the air of what you’re done with you, before you know it, you see your next-up good/better/best preferences come into focus.
Enjoy these lists from the five small groups.
In my teams, I am no longer willing to tolerate...
• Uneven distribution of work
• Having undefined common goals
• Sidelining other's opinions
• Meetings when nothing gets decided
• Not considering others
• Not owning downfalls as a team
• Team members not being respectful
In my Calendar, I am no longer willing to tolerate...
• Having 6-8 meetings a day
• Not having any breaks during the day (lunch, coffee breaks)
• Not having “hygge” time
• Not having time for physical and mental wellness
• Not having time for family
• Being included in meetings that are not a value add for them or for me
• Not having control over my calendar
I am no longer willing to tolerate my lack of clarity about...
• Decision making
• Setting boundaries for myself saying a positive no
• Definition of self/purpose
• Income
• Relationship with partner
• Career destination
• Imparting wisdom
In my professional life, I am no longer willing to tolerate...
• People not giving me trust
• Hard work without proportionate reward
• Over-work
• Lack of work/life balance
• No validation for hard work
• Expectations of connectivity / responsiveness 24/7
• Degrading actions in the workplace
I am no longer willing to tolerate the self-belief that...
• I need to belong
• Saying no will hurt people
• I need to be accommodating to maintain my relationships
• I am not able to be energetic
• I need to say yes to have purpose
• if I don’t do well on a task it means I’m incompetent
• Because I’m a slow reader, that I’m not smart
• If I didn’t read everything, that I’m not smart
• Not believing in myself
What’s on your “No Longer Tolerate” List?