If you have met me or been in any training I’ve ever delivered, you know I have a bias toward action. See the problem, consider solutions, and act.
But that framework is missing a critical component. Before I act, I ask, “what’s my step 2?”
Last year, we had one of the nastiest mayoral elections I have ever seen. A local advocate was angry that her candidate was losing ground, so she aggressively went after an opponent’s husband, digging up teenage driving violations and suggesting that marrying him was evidence of bad judgement.
A lot of people were furious with the attacks. They wanted lawsuits, letters to the editor, and forcing her out of organizations in which she was involved. They also wanted to put a stop to the comments.
I was asked to help lead the charge. But before I did, I asked what our step 2 would be.
To take public action, would draw a public response, not slow down the commentary. Rather it would be a response that would spread the rumors and amplify the insults so they drew more attention. Not the goal. Notwhat you want to do right before an election. Instead, I helped us all pull back.
We went ahead and drafted all the things. It was at least cathartic. And then put them away to reconsider after the election. Our candidate won. We could have done something after, but it would have been unnecessary poor sportsmanship. And the angry advocate retreated into the background on her own.
Other times, there is a step 2 that works or that is absolutely worth the risk. And those are possibly the actions that you associate with me taking “bold” action. Maybe, but it is almost always measured first.
What bold action do you want to take? What’s your step two to handle the blowback?
Best,
Julie
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