Last week I had the opportunity to facilitate a conversation that reminded me (again) of the importance of sharing, creating spaces for sharing to occur, and the beauty that can happen when we make the time to connect.
Often, when something impacts us, at work or elsewhere (a comment, an omission, an exclusion, a microaggression, etc.) it’s hard to speak up in the moment. This could be for many reasons including fear, lack of safety, power imbalance, personality, etc.
The words “mind the gap” painted on the ground at a train platform.
What’s your story?
What happens, however, is that as time goes by, we live in the story we have created about the incident and the other person. When we live in the story, we tend to only see what the story suggests, and the gap between us widens. This is an example of confirmation bias – seeing what we expect to see.
If we don’t have the opportunity to share, listen and connect, that gap can become irreparable and can also impact other relationships – and can poison the work environment.
Bridging the Gap
When we create spaces that honour our common need to be seen, valued, and heard, magic can happen.
I saw some of that magic last week between two people who made the time to bridge the gap by sharing, listening, acknowledging, taking responsibility, and being vulnerable. The gap was markedly smaller when the call ended. It was beautiful to witness.
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