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Gender discrimination within United Methodist Church

‪United Methodist Church unveils the sting of gender discrimination within its organization. #HerTruth https://youtu.be/xZk4ssVKHpA‬

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Chapter 5: Diagnose the adaptive challenge

In this chapter, authors Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky warn their readers about the dangers that lurk during adaptive challenges. Adaptive challenges are dangerous “because their solutions require people to change their ways.” These solutions are comprised of determining what is essential to keep, what needs to be discarded even though it is probably still valued, and moving forward with new ways for handling circumstances.

The inherent dilemma in every challenge we face is that each challenge is different than any other challenge we’ve faced to date. In other words, nothing is the same: even identical twins have differences no matter how minute. If we accept this premise yet still continue to approach adaptive challenges as opportunities to persuade, the likelihood of success will not be in our favor.

If your “patients” continue to act the way they did before you offered your diagnosis, you might have an adaptive challenge on your hands. The authors equate a cycle of failure to trying the same thing and expecting different results. In their example, a particular staff emailed corporate about a situation. After no response, they sent a longer email with stronger language. After no response, they erroneously decided to send an even harsher email, to which corporate responded by firing a key staff member for causing trouble.

Another symptom indicating you may be facing an adaptive challenge includes an over reliance on authority. As infants, we master this behavior by recognizing the source of food and then doing whatever we need to do to ensure our needs are met. If I’m hungry, and you give me food, then I’m satisfied. If you don’t, I will let you know about my dissatisfaction. Although this works for technical problems, this option typically fails with adaptive challenges because adaptive challenges invoke new attitudes, beliefs, and values.

Because successful answers to adaptive challenges reside within the people immersed in the adaptive challenge, the authors provide us with four adaptive challenge archetypes:

1. Gap between espoused values and behavior. For example, does your organization encourage collaborative behavior and reward individual performance? If you are the one who sees the gap and begins to champion collaborative behavior, from whom might your opposition stem? If people have been successful as individual performers, it’s likely they might want to resist your valiant efforts.

2. Competing commitments. One of my pet peeves is when someone presents me with more than one #1 priorities. In my mind, there’s a #1 and a #2 priority. Nevertheless, even if there are two #1 priorities, what happens when these priorities compete with one another? What if the organization wants to provide face-to-face services, yet it also wants to allow single parents to work flexible hours? Who will win, and who will lose?

3. Speaking the unspeakable. How much of the silent conversation in our heads actually makes it into the public? Do we honestly make it safe for our employees to call the baby ugly? Chances are people will keep their honest opinions to themselves. In West Michigan, you may hear this described as West Michigan nice. Others may call it passive aggressive. Even still, others may call it dishonest.

4. Work avoidance. In order to shirk the pain of handling an adaptive challenge, people will typically try to divert their responsibility or your attention. For example, “executives hire a diversity officer so no line manager has to take responsibility for increasing diversity in his or her own department” (divert responsibility). People attempt to solve an adaptive challenge as if it was a technical problem (divert responsibility), develop a myriad of excuses as to why something has yet to be done or cannot be done (divert responsibility), or change the topic altogether (divert attention).

This book has 23 chapters. So we’re just getting started. Follow me on Twitter (@allengradnigo) and other social media platforms for additional quotes from and reflections on The practice of #adaptive #leadership: Tools and practices for changing your organization and the world. This book is recommended reading by Bishop Whayne Hougland, #Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan.

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Seek

Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. (Psalm 105:4)

Martha had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Martha came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:39-40)

Although scripture says…

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Begin with prayer

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

The world says, “Have a shot with us.”

God reminds me of how my body has reacted to tequila in similar situations as this one. God reminds me that my loved ones and I need to make it home…

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Profession of Faith

Beyond posts, I feel most blessed and humbled in faith, knowing I’m a Child of God (1 John 3:1-2). The Gospel tells us “for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall NOT perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The Good News is that we are saved once we believe in our heart that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again to atone for our sin;…

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Reflection on Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Dallas Officers

Reflection on Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Dallas Officers

July 8, 2016

As I join the family, friends, and onlookers of those killed recently in thought and prayer, I find comfort in knowing I don’t have to worry about whether someone will receive the justice I may feel is warranted. God has already assured me that, in due time, the foot of the wicked will slip; their day of disaster is near, and their doom rushes upon them (Deuteronomy 32:35).

The Book…

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Cancelled #USAirways Flight Temporarily Leaves Redeploying Soldier Stranded in Charlotte #supportourtroops http://wp.me/p1yRnh-nf

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Cancelled U.S. Airways Flight Temporarily Leaves Redeploying Soldier Stranded in Charlotte

Cancelled U.S. Airways Flight Temporarily Leaves Redeploying Soldier Stranded in Charlotte

@USAirways @CarlsonWagonlit #supportourtroops

July 16, 2014: After a nine month deployment (three combat tours) and five back-to-back flights, Captain Jason Tebedo (U.S. Army) found himself stranded at the Charlotte, North Carolina airport (3 1/2 hours from home). At 11:50 p.m, the U.S. Airways gate attendant made the cancellation announcement no weary traveler wants to hear. Although the…

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Controversy over JROTC cadet's Facebook profile photo

Controversy over JROTC cadet’s Facebook profile photo

Background: A JROTC cadet recently selected a provocative default photo for the profile he used to post messages on his high school’s JROTC website. A parent complained to local staff, and unsatisfied with the result, the parent elevated the issue, resulting in higher headquarters providing direction for local staff to remove the photo.

As a civilian high school senior, the young man maintains…

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July 5, 2014 : The Uwharrie #offroad Training Center certified 10 drivers to operate their #4x4 vehicles with basic skills. Drivers arrived in Jeep Wranglers and Cherokees, a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and a Ford F-150.