Moral Imagination

In the past two weeks I have heard the phrase Moral Imagination used in multiple settings.  One involved an excellent podcast with Brene Brown & Adam Grant (The Curiosity Shop) where they were talking about what makes a great commencement speech and what makes a bad one.  One of the elements they felt like helped to set apart excellence from mediocrity in this area was Moral Imagination.  They basically described it as the courage to creatively think and explore options that help raise the expectations for kindness and decency among humans.

In another setting, some leaders were talking about qualities and characteristics that tend to set apart great leaders. Moral Imagination was one of those, and they referenced how in that context it is the ability to think creatively about solutions that don't just protect the status quo, but help to challenge thinking and invite everyone participating to lean in and make the space safer and the work better. 

I was deeply intrigued by both of these conversations and so began wondering, "What is Moral Imagination, and how can it be used and applied most effectively in leadership and life?"

That question led me to some additional exploring that revealed this definition:  Moral Imagination is the capacity to creatively envision new, ethical, and successful alternatives when facing a difficult situation, rather than just following rigid rules or accepting a false choice.

After considering all of that, I decided to write my own definition since sometimes putting things in my own words helps me to digest it better. So, here's my definition:

Moral Imagination is the process of using our creativity to face problems in ways that bring more love, beauty, and goodness into the situation and lives of those involved.

It seems like there are two elements that I am finding are consistent:

1 - Creativity in the face of adversity or struggle.  If we are going to engage in Moral Imagination we aren't going to just accept the standard answers for difficult questions.  We will be willing to explore and experiment, looking for new ways to tackle tough circumstances.

2 - The solutions must elevate the outcomes toward greater goodness.  The problem doesn't just get solved - it gets addressed in ways that make the situation better, and everyone involved in the outcome experiences greater wholeness in their lives as well.

While I reserve the right to be wrong about this (but probably not - ha!), if we take this basic principle of Moral Imagination in the way I am describing it, how and where could you use it in your life & leadership right now?  Is there a particular situation that just keeps coming back up and never seems to find a good solution?  Who else could you involve in the creative thinking process to help look for better and more wholistic outcomes?  Is there a particular situation where people have just accepted that "this is just the way it is," and if so, how might applying some Moral Imagination bring some new perspectives and better solutions?

Here's to dreaming of ways to engage our Moral Imagination this week (and beyond)!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.

The 4 S's

I had a powerful conversation this week with a friend where we talked about the 4 S's of healthy attachment - Safe, Seen, Soothed, & Secure. This is based on work from Dr. Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson in their book, The Power of Showing Up. These four elements represent what children (and adults in relationships) need from a primary caregiver or partner to build a healthy, resilient emotional foundation for their lives.  However, I think these 4 S's have a much broader impact for the way we lead and work in the world.

Let's start with their brief descriptions of each of the 4 S's:

Safe: You protect someone from harm. You do not cause fear or danger. You keep physical and emotional boundaries clear so they feel shielded from threat.

Seen: You pay close attention to inner life. You notice their signals, expressions, and moods. You look past the outward behavior to understand the feelings underneath.

Soothed: You help calm distress. When they hurt or panic, you do not leave them alone in the storm. You offer a comforting presence that helps regulate their nervous system.

Secure: You provide steady, predictable presence over time. This consistency teaches them that they can rely on you to return and repair after a conflict or separation.

I'm certain you can see why I think these 4 S's have powerful application beyond just our primary, core relationships. 

For example, my friend and I were talking about spaces and environments where we experience these and where they may be lacking.  We discussed the differences between those kind of environments, and how we might respond in those settings.  We also had a powerful conversation about ways in which we can make choices that either contribute to that kind of positive space or diminish it.  Part of our conversation revolved around how we always wanted to be speaking and acting in ways that helped spaces feel more Safe and where we did our best to help others be Seen.  We discussed how we could help to Soothe the hurt and distress others may be experiencing by paying attention and simply working to be present with them in their storm. And we took time to name the absolute importance of being a consistent, steady, predictable presence over time, contributing to a sense of feeling Secure.

Part of our fundamental conclusion was that rather than take the easy road of feeling like a victim in environments and spaces where this may not be happening well, we wanted to make sure our participation in the world (regardless of the setting) was something that helped enhance these 4 S's for others.

As you think about your life and leadership, how could you determine to be a contributor to the 4 S's in those spaces?  Is there someone who comes to your mind that you know you could help them feel Safe or more Seen?  Do you know someone who is hurting that might benefit from your simple presence with them in the midst of their pain - not fixing it or even needing to find the right words to say? How could you show up as a steady, non-anxious presence in the spaces you know you will be in this week?

Here's to being people who intentionally work to cultivate the 4 S's through our lives this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.

Ripple Effect

I was chatting with a friend this week and we were talking about the Ripple Effect of our choices and attitudes. Then, I had a conversation with another friend, and the same idea came up! So, of course, that's what I need to share with you this week!

Here's the basic idea - our actions and attitudes have an influence on the people and environments around us, whether we want them to or not. Through our words, our actions, our reactions, and even our mannerisms, we are making an impact on the space and the people around us. The Ripple Effect will happen, it's just a matter of whether it will be positive or negative.  A story to illustrate.

One of my friends was telling me about a situation in which an individual got very upset with them and came and started yelling and berating them in front of another group of people. My friend remained calm and composed and simply responded to the person that they didn't appreciate being talked to like that, and they felt like it was important for the other person to just walk away.  Of course, that didn't go over very well, so they yelled some more and then said a few choices words over their shoulder as they were walking away. After a few minutes, two other individuals who had witnessed the encounter individually came to my friend and told them how much they appreciated the calm way they had handled the situation in the face of how awful the other person had been to them.

In this one encounter, multiple Ripple Effects were happening. The person doing the yelling made a significant negative Ripple Effect. They may not have intended this to happen, but that entire group of people who witnessed their tantrum lowered their feelings and expectations of that individual.  Conversely, my friend made a positive Ripple Effect by the way they responded, elevating their opinion to that same group of people.

That's the thing about the Ripple Effect, usually it isn't ever the reason we do or say something, but it happens whether we want it to or not. The person yelling wasn't trying to have the other people think less of them, and my friend wasn't trying to have the other people think more highly of them, but that is exactly what happened because of the Ripple Effect.

Here's the main point - being aware of the Ripple Effect can help us be more mindful up front of how much of an impact we are making. It allows us to make choices that create the kind of Ripple Effect we want to be making in the world.

Maybe you can think of a situation this past week where you can see the Ripple Effect. How did that circumstance come about? What was your role in it? What kind of an impact did your words or actions have on the people involved? Is there something you need to go back and correct? Maybe you witnessed someone make a powerful, positive Ripple Effect and you need to go and express how much you appreciated the way they handled things?  Finally, as you head into the weekend and next week, how could you be mindful of the Ripple Effect you are having and make some intentional choices about the kind of Ripple Effect you want to make?

Here's to being mindful of the Ripple Effect we are making in the world!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.