Monday Kickstarter: May 11, 2020

Monday Kickstarters is a working session designed for everyone on the call to figure out how to have conversations worth having when faced with a tough situation or problem. You can listen live on the Conversations Worth Having YouTube Channel.

Here are the topics and generative questions that were developed on Monday, May 11!

Inequities in Education

 The Challenge: Virtual Teaching is not working (equity gap is growing).

And from the Chat:

• What are students already doing?
• What would success look like?
• If student success and achievement was completely guaranteed…What questions would we be asking?
• Are you open to exploring some positive solutions?
• Student success and achievement …
• What does “equity gap” mean?

Taking Care of Yourself

 The Challenge: Understanding what self-care in the virtual workplace really means

• What are the unique stressors that come along with working virtually?
• When have you felt most relaxed and alive working in a virtual environment? What conditions made that possible? What did you value about yourself and others?
• How might we establish “ways of working virtually” that support wellbeing?

Ways to Listen Deeply to Those Who Think Differently

The Challenge: Deeply listening to people who think Covid is just the flu and we have saddled the next generation with huge debt and we should not have closed the economy 

And from the chat:

• They just need a good listening to…
• listen to learn and understand where they are coming from; what is the ultimate success they seek for themselves and for the next generation?

Getting Stuck

The Challenge: Focus on barriers and getting “stuck” there

• If that barrier were not there, what would you be able to do?
• How would doing that (the thing you would do if the barrier were removed) benefit you or others? What’s the outcome you are seeking?
• What are other ways you might achieve that same outcome without having to worry about the barrier?

Returning to Work

The Challenge: Our office is struggling to plan a return to the office coming out of the COVID “pause”…folks very fearful.

And from the chat:

• Tell me about a time you were fearful but did it anyway
• What are similar orgs/offices doing
• Share a story about your best courageous moment
• How might we come together to discuss our concerns and what’s possible?

Getting Needed Help

The Challenge: Encouraging clinical staff to seek out help is challenging.

• How are you replenishing yourself, building your resilience, and maintaining a sense of wellbeing these days?
• What might be the benefits of seeking help during this time?
• If you were to get support, what would that look like?

Online Communication

The Challenge: A staff member that doesn’t communicate clearly and accurately in emails

And from the chat:

• What protocols/tools have been shared for effective email communications?

The Future is Hopeless

The Challenge: Talking about the future when it is so uncertain recycles in a negative and hopeless way.

The Challenge: When will this be OVER…folks keep asking…I will be better when this is over…

• What “over” isn’t it? What if this is a pause to allow us to co-create a better world with one another? What would you do differently?
• How might we get started on that now?

Job Search

The Challenge: Losing both personal and job opportunities because of covid

The Challenge: Feeling a little hopeless about being in job search given the current environment

And from the chat:

• What are your strengths, and who could benefit from those in exactly this moment?
• What is one thing that is functioning well for you right now?
• what are you doing to take CARE of yourself as you experience this challenge?

Insufficient Medical Equipment

The Challenge: We do not have enough personal protective equipment and we are at risk in healthcare

And from chat:

• What decision makers can you connect with to explain the situation and ask for help
• How can we best explore our options for obtaining the equipment that we need?

Join us Monday from Noon – 12:30 ET

Bring your own challenging situation! Please register through the Center for Appreciative Inquiry.