Comments on: What kind of shoes walk into your meetings? http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/ Awareness, Development and Action in the Twin Cities Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:46:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Erik Hare http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Erik Hare Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:21:28 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-90 When we are bombarded by too much information, we have to have a filtering mechanism of some kind. What we want to believe is often good enough, at least out on the internet. Face to face meetings are a bit better because at least there isn't a machine between us. We have to, as you say, spend time looking at each other's feet. That works for me! Shame that in this bizee world meetigns like that are harder to arrange all the time. When we are bombarded by too much information, we have to have a filtering mechanism of some kind. What we want to believe is often good enough, at least out on the internet.

Face to face meetings are a bit better because at least there isn’t a machine between us. We have to, as you say, spend time looking at each other’s feet. That works for me!

Shame that in this bizee world meetigns like that are harder to arrange all the time.

]]> By: Tami Bussing http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Tami Bussing Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:36:15 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-56 Interesting discussion - and how it's evolved. A balance of shoes under the table suggests an atmosphere of varied opinions, backgrounds and classes. We're always a voluntary participant of that diverse group; we direct our own lives. So, how we engage, what level of leadership we provide, how we direct conversations is key. What about the shoe print we leave behind as a leader? Are we prepared to influence for the greater of the good regardless of our biased beliefs? Interesting discussion – and how it’s evolved. A balance of shoes under the table suggests an atmosphere of varied opinions, backgrounds and classes. We’re always a voluntary participant of that diverse group; we direct our own lives. So, how we engage, what level of leadership we provide, how we direct conversations is key.

What about the shoe print we leave behind as a leader? Are we prepared to influence for the greater of the good regardless of our biased beliefs?

]]> By: Brian Lucas http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Brian Lucas Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:16:08 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-54 I think even the definition of "fact" has been watered down... mostly because extremists keep repeating lies over and over again until people start to think they are facts. Global warming is a fact. What we need to do about it is open to various opinions and perspectives. The absence of WMDs in Iraq and the lack of an Iraq/Al Quida connection are facts. You can still support the war but it doesn't change facts. The number of medical expense related bankruptcies in this country is a fact. What to do about it is an interesting debate. We can go on and on... Fox and Rush and Hannity may want you to think they are dealing from a factual basis, but there can't be two sets of facts. We can't let the concept of "fact" be watered down or we'll lost our bearings even more. I think even the definition of “fact” has been watered down… mostly because extremists keep repeating lies over and over again until people start to think they are facts.

Global warming is a fact. What we need to do about it is open to various opinions and perspectives.

The absence of WMDs in Iraq and the lack of an Iraq/Al Quida connection are facts. You can still support the war but it doesn’t change facts.

The number of medical expense related bankruptcies in this country is a fact. What to do about it is an interesting debate.

We can go on and on…

Fox and Rush and Hannity may want you to think they are dealing from a factual basis, but there can’t be two sets of facts. We can’t let the concept of “fact” be watered down or we’ll lost our bearings even more.

]]> By: Wendy Helgeson http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Wendy Helgeson Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:03:27 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-51 That is so true Graham! Really - you can usually find your own set of facts to back up what you want to believe. It is getting harder and harder to get two sides to every issue, when really we should be able to consider three sides - or more! Very polarizing. That is so true Graham! Really – you can usually find your own set of facts to back up what you want to believe. It is getting harder and harder to get two sides to every issue, when really we should be able to consider three sides – or more! Very polarizing.

]]> By: Graham http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Graham Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:12:10 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-49 Very well put but I don't think I'm as hopefully about Facebook and the rest. I'm seeing social networking tools as reinforcing myopic world views. More often than not your "friends" are from very similar backgrounds or, for professional/social reasons, clam-up as Steve advocated earlier. The sad fact is the rapid growth of very focused media makes it too easy to craft your own set of comfortable "facts". For the last year I have been reading blogs and magazines from both sides of the aisle. The two sides do not simply have different opinions on the same issue; they're working from opposing sets of facts. How do we get our facts straight so that we are at least talking about the same thing? Very well put but I don’t think I’m as hopefully about Facebook and the rest. I’m seeing social networking tools as reinforcing myopic world views. More often than not your “friends” are from very similar backgrounds or, for professional/social reasons, clam-up as Steve advocated earlier. The sad fact is the rapid growth of very focused media makes it too easy to craft your own set of comfortable “facts”. For the last year I have been reading blogs and magazines from both sides of the aisle. The two sides do not simply have different opinions on the same issue; they’re working from opposing sets of facts. How do we get our facts straight so that we are at least talking about the same thing?

]]> By: Joanie Miskowiec http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Joanie Miskowiec Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:37:36 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-34 Wendy: I never thought of political (or even social) differences in the way you presented it - but now that I read your blog, it seems very obvious. Thanks for the commentary - I know I tend to read articles and watch stations with which I "agree". I will make it my personal goal to read and watch others (and not stop reading after the first paragraph or throw a shoe at the tv when I get info that I don't like.) Great insight - keep it up! Joanie Wendy: I never thought of political (or even social) differences in the way you presented it – but now that I read your blog, it seems very obvious. Thanks for the commentary – I know I tend to read articles and watch stations with which I “agree”. I will make it my personal goal to read and watch others (and not stop reading after the first paragraph or throw a shoe at the tv when I get info that I don’t like.)

Great insight – keep it up! Joanie

]]> By: Brian Lucas http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Brian Lucas Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:02:20 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-33 I actually think that we do a disservice to ourselves when we brand subjects like "politics, religion, abortion, same sex marriage" as out of bounds in polite conversation. We need to learn to talk to each other and listen to each other without outrage, insults, or offense. Politics and religion are important parts of our lives.... and we should be able to have rational, constructive conversations about these topics without having things get uncomfortable. When you take these topics off the table... it doesn't matter what shoes are underneath.... we will get no closer to understanding each other. I actually think that we do a disservice to ourselves when we brand subjects like “politics, religion, abortion, same sex marriage” as out of bounds in polite conversation. We need to learn to talk to each other and listen to each other without outrage, insults, or offense.

Politics and religion are important parts of our lives…. and we should be able to have rational, constructive conversations about these topics without having things get uncomfortable. When you take these topics off the table… it doesn’t matter what shoes are underneath…. we will get no closer to understanding each other.

]]> By: Steve http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Steve Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:29:12 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-32 I'm somewhat confused with the direction of this article. The title suggests (I'm assuming) shoes under the table in a work atmosphere. Yet the body of the article relates to Facebook and politics. The only hot issues missing in this blog are abortion and religion! Whenever i'm in a group setting (personal or professional) I SHUT MY MOUTH on Politics, Relgion, Abortion, Same Sex Marriage. These are PERSONAL issues and should stay personal--especially when brought up at work. What shoes do I want under my table? A balance of people. The world needs Liberals, Conservatives, Whites, Blacks, Muslims, Christains, Gay and Heterosexual. Balance people. I’m somewhat confused with the direction of this article. The title suggests (I’m assuming) shoes under the table in a work atmosphere. Yet the body of the article relates to Facebook and politics. The only hot issues missing in this blog are abortion and religion! Whenever i’m in a group setting (personal or professional) I SHUT MY MOUTH on Politics, Relgion, Abortion, Same Sex Marriage. These are PERSONAL issues and should stay personal–especially when brought up at work.

What shoes do I want under my table? A balance of people. The world needs Liberals, Conservatives, Whites, Blacks, Muslims, Christains, Gay and Heterosexual. Balance people.

]]> By: Beth Kathan http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/2009/09/21/what-kind-of-shoes-walk-into-your-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Beth Kathan Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:40:33 +0000 http://www.leadershipandcommunity.com/?p=309#comment-31 A very insightful commentary on the state of conversations today. Politics are probably the most visible - people see no other viewpoint than their own and "unfriend" those that disagree. Yet, less than 30 years ago, people did the same when their views on religion, sexuality or race differed. Today it is not ok to be judgmental on those subjects, yet it has become ok to be truly "right-wing" or "liberally biased". Thank you for stating what many are thinking ... there must be places where we agree. There must be some truth in what our opponents are saying. At the very least, there is much to be learned by listening to both sides. A very insightful commentary on the state of conversations today. Politics are probably the most visible – people see no other viewpoint than their own and “unfriend” those that disagree. Yet, less than 30 years ago, people did the same when their views on religion, sexuality or race differed. Today it is not ok to be judgmental on those subjects, yet it has become ok to be truly “right-wing” or “liberally biased”. Thank you for stating what many are thinking … there must be places where we agree. There must be some truth in what our opponents are saying. At the very least, there is much to be learned by listening to both sides.

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