You're just too close

I’m getting older and, thankfully, wiser. Someone who is maybe more poetic would say this state of being is Evolved. Yes, Evolved; that sounds lovely… and a bit ironic with my Southern accent, but y'all I like it so I’m running with it!?

You might be wondering… Evolved sounds great, but I’m going to need an example. I got you!?

Well, for starters, I don’t really get road rage. Rather, I imagine the jerk who just cut me off is racing to the hospital and, because I graciously braked to avoid them ripping off my bumper, they were able to make it just in time to meet their new baby entering the world! Ahhhh see?!? I'm freaking Evolved, okay?!?

My favorite (definitely most practiced example) is not losing my cool at the obvious. You know, like when someone (who shall remain nameless) is staring in the refrigerator and is asking where the ketchup is, but literally the only thing in the refrigerator is ketchup and milk. I don’t scream, “OPEN YOUR EYES!”… I just smile and give the clues to find it. Because the truth is, it’s probably not willful neglect of the obvious… they are just?too close.?

This same principle plays itself out over and over in business. Team members likely aren’t inconsistent with their interactions (internal or external) due to willful neglect; they are just?too close. They don’t intend to leave customers feeling in the dark or colleagues feeling secondary, but it happens. And left unchecked, those feelings can compound into decline in recurring revenues, employee churn, industry reputation risk, etc.?

Taking a step back to really take the pulse of your business, examining the language used, and immersing yourself into the experience for both customers and employees is really tough. It takes time, a conscious uncoupling of bias, and a level of vulnerability that most would rather not mess with. It requires the skill of naming the gap AND providing a solution. It demands the freedom of risk (real, perceived, or otherwise) by having nothing to lose, and nothing to gain —?oof, let that sit in!?

Nothing to lose; there’s no risk of losing a seat at the proverbial table by saying what actually needs to be said. Nothing to gain; there’s no risk of saying what you think wants to be heard to allow you to keep climbing the corporate ladder.?

This is why?Immersive Alignment?is so effective. It’s not that we know your business, or your people, better than you. Sometimes you’re just?too close.?

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?? Hi! I'm Brittany Joy Fountain, Founder & Chief Humanity Officer with Britt Joy & Co . We are redefining Corporate Culture Strategy via Immersive Alignment; a refreshingly HUMAN approach to strengthening your organization's culture.

? [email protected]

“In the past jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in future they’ll be about the heart.”?- LSE Director Minouche Shafik (2018)

That future is now. Chat soon!