Earlier this week I met via Zoom with a prospective upcoming client. Which is to say, we said “hello” to each other, to get a sense of presence together. And a vibe. And a sense of wonder. “Hello” is such an important part of the work. It’s a version of starting with generosity — in time, in spirit, in story, in dream. And, it sets pattern for the work we might do together over the coming months. So, fun. And, important.
In such circumstances, I’m usually looking for a question or two to help thicken our hello. Which is to say, give us invitation to get to the thicker stuff. I look for the questions, but truth is, they look for me, little birds that show up on the window sill. Sometimes I use the same questions for a couple of months. But they change. Grow. Evolve. And “fit” differently for different groups. Again, fun.
This week, as is often the case for me, it start’s somewhere and opens up to some connecting layers. I’m happy with Question 1. But Questions 2 and 3 bring a bit more.
- What is the simple story here?
I love inviting simplicity. I’m asking them, and participating with them, to basically give some attention to what’s at the heart of it. Let’s start our work at the heart of it. - What is the simple intent here?
Again, it’s a gift to get to the core. Intent has heart. But it also has some hands. It invites people to context their doing from the heart of it, the simple story. - What is the outrageous intent here?
Simple and outrageous are not opposites here. They actually dwell together. I love inviting the courage to have voice, the next layer of what are we really doing, that might only be spoken as a whisper. It’s invitation to take the gloves off and get in.
Hello’s matter. So do good questions. So does a bit of process (circle-based) to bring those voices and hearts together.
Quite life-giving. Which is to say, fun too.
