One of the amazing transitions that happen during each year is the changing of the seasons. Sometimes this is marked with a dramatic shift; sometimes it is a gentler handover between the seasons.
I was having a stroll yesterday, and a break from my normally busy week of work, taking some time out – I had been working on something over the weekend, which I eventually completed on Monday so I had made less time than usual to recharge my batteries. This ‘time out’ was to recharge a little before the remainder of my week unfolded with some interesting meetings, travel and project work.
As I have mentioned on many occasions before, when one slows one sees more, one thinks less, yet the space this creates allows other thoughts to seep or burst into bloom in one’s mind.
Much like the wonderful spring afternoon I was enjoying, with colour a plenty and buds bursting with blossom.
The lovely flowers in this picture were gently moving in the light breeze, slowly nodding their heads at any passer by, and perhaps cheering each other on in their growth.
Certainly they caught my attention and reminded me of a line ‘a host of golden daffodils’ in a poem by William Wordsworth, 1804.
In fact the poem was inspired by a journal entry from his sister, about a walk they had enjoyed:
‘…tossed and reeled and danced and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them…’
Dorothy Wordsworth, The Grasmere journal, Thursday 15th April 1802
Such elegant writing.
I had been looking ahead through the trees to a distant horizon, yet when I looked down to check my footing it was then that I noticed this wonderful carpet of flowers at the side of the path. I guess I had been vaguely aware of something growing. I had not taken note of what was there.
A pause, a conversation, a few moments taken to look, admire, think, enjoy – time well invested.
It also made me think about effective teams that do share and support each other. Each person knowing their role, each person playing to their own strengths, and letting others play to theirs too. But importantly knowing that some stretch is needed to increase their own development, their collective growth, and increase the performance of the team. Yet how often does this happen? Sadly not often enough.
I witness, too often, when some comment is made to criticize another ‘team’ member, score a foolish small point, hinder rather than help, ignore rather than involve. Small wonder that I added the quotation marks around team – because they are not a team. I am left to wonder what they could achieve if they did nod their heads positively, did cheer on their colleagues. Perhaps they could even ‘verily laugh’. Now how good would that be?
After my pause, I strolled on enjoying more of the wonderful spring growth that was surfacing. Surfacing after a winter of rest when nature had been recharging its’ batteries too.
And left wondering about ‘teams’ that have yet to become high performing. If you think I could provide some insight do get in touch.
My best wishes,
Peter
