Rob Statham

Plant, Water, Harvest  

As I reflect on the last year it has been a bit of an adventure.  The economy has been a challenge to us all.  What we relied on for work seemed to shrink away and what we spent little time doing seemed to compete for our core business.  As I reflect I am drawn to summarize what I have learned or at least what I have been shown again in hopes that I do learn.

I see now more than ever that the words we use are just like seeds.  In latent cause analysis and in everyday life.  I will relate what I am talking about to LCA. 

The moment something goes wrong we all have a tendency to blame.  In fact if this goes unchecked, as it usually does in the workplace, it usually turns into very piercing accusations, derogatory comments.  Usually done in the quiet of the hallway or behind closed doors.

We deceive ourselves thinking that it isn't hurting anyone - them or us.  We also deceive ourselves if we think, "well it is true, and sometimes the truth hurts."  I agree there is an element of truth there but that it certainly not the way it should be used and not why it should hurt.  The truth hurts when I see it.  I suddenly see myself for who I really am.  I suddenly have an "Aha" moment and see that I contributed that incident.  I was ready to hang someone else, but now I see it was me, it was all of us.  That hurts.  It hurts good.  That brings positive change.  This is what LCA helps us do - to see ourselves and in turn to see positive change.

We need positive change.  We can't plant negative words and expect to reap positive change.  I read an article where they interviewed all the professors at a prestigious university.  They asked them if they thought they were better, average, or worse than the 'average professor" there.  94% said better.  Think about that.  That is almost all of them.  That is our problem too.  We aren't better than everyone else.  In fact that thinking deceives us and leads us to blame and devour others.

That is where humility comes in.  Think of humility as the water for our seeds which are words.  If you have been through Failsafe's 4 day class you will remember and evidence exercise that taught you to approach evidence in humility so you can "see."  Without humility we run off of bias, we run blind, we do not bring about positive change.  Doing an investigation when people realize that I am not about blame and sense some humility then they jump on board.  They want to help too, just like you do.

The harvest comes after you plant, and water, and nurture.  The harvest comes when others, after seeing you approach life with humility, and speak words that promote positive influence, then they start following your example.  It is drip by drip.  It is a battle every day, in LCA and in life.

There is some really good news here.  The harvest is coming.  The only thing bad may be is if you have been planting the wrong seeds.  This may explain why you are in the predicament you are in today.  Start today.  Plant seed that will bring positive change.  Let's lose the chest pounding "I am the man" attitude - that is killing us.

Let us accomplish the great job that we all have in heart by planting what is right and watering it and helping others tend to the field as well.

The harvest is coming - good or bad - and we can ensure it is good if we change and stop sowing the wrong seeds.

Spencer Philo

Click here to read Spencer's Blog

If you want something different................

Where do I start? As we go down a path we often wonder why we are not going in the direction we thought we would. I am sure there are many answers to this question, but if you read my last posting you know what our first reaction is - BLAME! We blame someone else for our unintended path. I am not here to speak about blame though, so I won't. So back on track. It is very difficult to be the "change agent". What do I mean by "change agent". Imagine this; you are a new employee, volunteer, student, etc. and you see things you do not understand or agree with. But everyone around you seems to be oblivious to these things you see. You ask a colleague "why is that....." and you either get ignored or told "that is no big deal, it is the way it is around here. Where does that leave you? IT BETTER MAKE YOU THINK! IT BETTER MAKE YOU THINK! I say this twice because you need to think about it. I know you have experienced it sometime in your life. You see something that does not make sense and you are brushed off. Will you ask again? Will you do something about it? Do not fall into the trap and become like your surroundings, CHANGE IT! Be a "change agent". Ask again and again and again until you either understand why it is like this or it changes. This is what I mean by "change agent". This is very difficult to do. You fear for your job, your bonus, your career, your everything. I understand this, but do not become a different person because of your surroundings. Be you and change your surroundings to what you think is RIGHT. So before I finish my opening line I want to say something about LEADERSHIP. Great leaders lead! Great leaders are prepared to do what they say and stand up for what they believe is right, not popular. We need more great leaders, so choose to be one. Now the rest of my opening line -


IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BE IT. SAYING IT AND NOT BEING IT MEANS NOTHING!