Being Alone
Many of us already felt lonely before the social isolation required by the coronavirus pandemic and many others are now encountering loneliness as we socially remove ourselves. Adjustment to this new experience will be uncomfortable if not painful. In “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” Hannah Arendt described loneliness as
Dehumanizing Life
Ride-hailing company Uber has launched a feature enabling users to choose a quiet, non-talkative ride. Since when did people become so socially inept that we are unable to navigate even the most basic of human interactions or – horror – to endure a few minutes in the company of someone else?
Conversation Makes a Best Place Place to Work
Quantum Workplace is an expert in employee engagement and delivers the Best Places to Work contest for cities and communities across the country. For its home town awards in Omaha, Quantum Workplace CEO Greg Harris pointed out
Are you being ethical?
What are ethics? Why should we be mindful of them, professionally and personally? I have written before in this blog on the connection between conversational practice and increased ethical behaviors. We need to be diligent in our quest to live a good life. What follows are a few observations on recent areas of leadership, technology, and trust where more diligent focus on ethics is needed.
Art of Conversation Workshop Discount!
Entering the final part of the year, and before I “hibernate” over the holidays to do some reflection and thought-work for 2019, I am I’d offering a discount on my Art of Conversation workshop to fill my remaining booking time.
Failure to Listen
It has been a deeply disturbing week witnessing Dr. Christine Blasey Ford give voice courageously to her sexual assault. We have observed listening at its most wrenchingly empathetic. And we have observed its utter absence. Listening is an act of love, says StoryCorps founder David Isay.
Are You Talking About Your Salary?
We have been aware for a long time of discriminatory pay practices, yet confronting the issue is a challenge for many people. Tackling pay gaps that emerge out of bias rather than merit is an imperative for any employer…
Is There Kindness In Your Life?
This summer, the documentary film “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” became the all time top-grossing domestic biographical documentary. My local favorite theater, Film Streams, held the film over repeatedly, but this is not what makes the film startling. Rather, it is what Alissa Wilkinson notes in this Vox film review: “… the main goal of ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ is
Curious Conversations at the Museum of Alternative History
In a cultural moment of the fake and factual, trickery and truth, The KANEKO is hosting a summer exhibition, Reality, including the Museum of Alternative History. The brainchild of artist, filmmaker, and educator Tim Guthrie, the Museum concept mimics that of a traditional Museum of Natural History. The current exhibition offers
Do You Have The Courage To Confront Racial Bias?
This week, Starbucks closed more than 8,000 stores so around 175,000 staff could take part in racial bias training. Yes, Starbucks staff in one of the company’s Philadelphia stores acted egregiously after calling police who then arrested two black men who were simply waiting for a friend. Absolutely there was, and continues to be, a need for education and skill building around issues of bias, inclusion, and diversity. Given that