I am a person who thinks fast, walks fast, and talks fast. I guess I am a quintessential New Yorker. I sometimes want answers fast. But one answer I haven’t been able to get and that has been gnawing on me for last 15 years in philanthropy is why isn’t there be a better way for organizations such as Forward Together to get sustainable long-term funding. So, I decided to jump into this Innovation Challenge with Forward Together and other funder colleagues to possibly figure out this wicked question. What I have learned so far in this process:
- To build collective muscle to solve challenging issues; I need to take it one step at a time. I really need to slow down, pause, and then move from a place of strength and abundance to tackle complex issues.
- To actively listen and repeat back takes practice. That practice is fundamental to slowing down, listening carefully, pausing, and acting strategically.
- To have the ability to check-in with one person every week to practice collaborative muscle building is an incredible opportunity. My weekly check-ins have accelerated my growth considerably. I appreciate the commitment we both have made to this process and I learn each week how to do things better.
My hope is that working on the Muscles & Mindsets will get me/we to a place where we can tackle the wicked question. Lastly, big thanks to Eugene for his fantastic facilitation and methodology. I am looking forward to the Innovation Challenge!
2 comments for “Slow Down to Speed Up”