Last week was a difficult week.
London was hotter than the inside of a volcano, don't even get me started on the Central Line and ... Boris Johnson is PM.
As I said, it's not been an easy few days.
It's got me thinking about systems and our role in systems. I noticed that there wasn't much traffic about in Hackney - the school holidays are well underway and there's no school run traffic. And I realised how often we don't see ourselves as actually part of the traffic problem. If we are stuck in traffic, we don't see our role in our car as part of the contribution to that traffic. We tend to see it as an annoyance that's separate to ourselves. When actually, I'm either part of the problem (by driving) or not part of the problem (by walking).
Then I started thinking about politics and how a systemic perspective might shift my view there. I find more in common with the politics of the left than the politics of the right. However, I also find the current discourse extremely frustrating. The mud being thrown from one side to another, the lack of listening, the way everyone is digging deep and not budging an inch. We are becoming more and more polarised as a nation.
So with an individual lens I might well vote for the left, when I think of the system something different entirely comes ups for me. I want to support a coming together of opinions and beliefs. I want to be looking for what we have in common with one another, rather than clinging on with dear life to what is different about us. We have to find a way to understand each other. And this is going to feel way more vulnerable and uncomfortable than retrenching to our own individual beliefs.
I'm beginning to see how our inability to take a systemic approach is one of the key barriers in the way of us coming together. Or even of us creating a more harmonious and humane workplace. I've learnt so much from my colleagues Lisa and Dorit about systems awareness and how we teach this to leaders as a key inclusive leadership skill.
The other thing that we are doing is a cross industry Rising Stars half day. We want to support BAME talent get to the top. I heard a joke about Trump and Johnson showing that anybody, however little talent they have, can get to the top. I disagree. This is about privilege. Some people simply have an easier ride upwards than others. Just like we support female talent acceleration programmes, we also want to offer BAME talent a day to really focus on their careers, their strengths and their passions. The programme will be led by the fabulous Derek Appau.
I was also inspired by Catherine Mayer who advised us that 'staying optimistic is a political choice'. I stay optimistic by looking for the people that inspire me. I take a look at the small wins the WEP is making. I listen to the Russell Brand podcast of him interviewing Brené Brown. I notice that the new cabinet representation of people with an Asian heritage may be hugely meaningful to swathes of the population. I speak to people who inspire me whilst preparing for DiverseMinds and our next Masculinity in the workplace conference.
So that's how I got through. Along with a huge amount of gratitude for my WeWork office and it's air conditioning.
I hope something in there helps you just a tiny bit
Rox