One of the blogs that came up this week on the WordPress site where this blog is posted was headed “Unofficial start to Summer”. Driving home this evening late the outside temperature reading was 9. Not what I’d call the unofficial or any other type of start to Summer.
Winter can be a beautiful time – this is near Whakatane
Of course it’s all about perspectives and living south of the equator – a fair way south – our perspective is very much Winter calling.
Recently I had a bout of chest infection with coughing that seemed to go on an on. Perhaps all that flying and mixing with strangers in the compressed environment wasn’t so good for me afterall! Winter is definitely on the way and I notice myself feeling ever so slightly morose when it’s dark early and cold. Why is that? I have heating, and it always gets dark at some point anyway. So why should the blackening sky blacken the mood.
I’ve noticed it in the past, but for some reason been more conscious of it this year. Perceptions can greatly impact how we feel about each other and often those perceptions are right. If I’m told I appear stressed (like I was today!) then there’s a good chance I was. Or the perception might be wrong, but it’ll be a good excuse for a conversation between colleagues.
So how about an unofficial start to feedback with a comment about perceptions? You don’t need to accuse or state anything. Just “My perceptions is that you appear……..” – you fill in the blank which might be happy/anxious/overworked/mindful/unfocussed – and see where it takes you. If it doesn’t fire, it’s unofficial, so no harm done.
But I’d say probably a lot of good will be done.
Stephen
