I have been busy the past ten days with a coaching exercise, which requires observation of conversations in all areas of life- work, home, shops, car, supper, staffroom- where ever they happen to be. Call it license to eavesdrop. It is meant to improve listening and observation skills, and has been a difficult exercise.
As usual, there have been some interesting learnings- not least, that passageways at work are not good venues for any kind of conversation, as something about the transience and dinginess of poorly lit spaces affects mood and level of commitment. People like to complain in passageways. Commiseration alleys.
I have discovered that I have many conversations with women that often do not lead to any action, they are relationship conversations as ends in themselves. And, not surprisingly that I engage men more readily in action conversations, more quickly. I am not sure to what extent I am the gender stereotype or am enabling it to happen. What is also evident is that without openness, little conversation happens ,and that with trust, many unexpected things can . Watch this space.
Gym again tonight. No possibility of outside exercise. It is miserable weather and big storms are looming. In my mind's eye is the container ship stuck on the rocks off the coast close to where my parents live, those beautiful beaches and my dad's beloved Oystercatchers, blackened with oil.
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