The cell phone buzzes. It is a text message from a colleauge. About work, but the gossip side. Not really proud about it, but sometimes it is the informal communication lines that provide the majority of information. This is especially true for dysfunctional organizations. The greater the dysfunction, the more essential informal lines of information become. The ability to filter falsehoods, sort out truthful tidbits, and determining the background meaning to the gossip becomes crucial.
It is communication. The 'right' kind, the 'proper' kind, or the desired kind (of communication that is), no. But it does test one's skills in filtering and establishing what is ultimately being communicated. This could be a version of "the silver lining in the dark cloud" or even in the worst of times, we can learn something. This is where I find myself these days: wondering and wandering. My current place of employment works in the worst kind of 'Good ol' boy' culture where professional function is secondary to personal relationship (aka: scratching of backs). I know, I know...I will be the first among all of you to admit that personal relationships are the most crucial aspect of making things happen, but is that how many of our admired leaders accomplished their goals, i.e. Martin Luther King and civil rights, etc.
While suffering through the dysfunction, I have tried to pull myself out (every evening after work) and look at the overall. It is difficult because I am passionate about teams, about helping people grow in the skills and accomplishments. But I find myself subject to the worst kind of backstabbing and political sabotage and labeled those unfortunate tags I have preached against my entire professional and volunteer career. I am getting an education in life experience and refresher course in humility.
I started this blog on the suggestion of my wife who - bless her heart - is tired of hearing this from me. I do not plan on advertising the publication of this blog due to the sensitive nature of what I will be discussing, but if you find some some fragment that could be useful to you in your journey or feel not alone in your suffering by reading these posts then it will be worth the effort. The therapeutic effect of writing them and getting them out of my head is just an added bonus!
Yours,
Justin Credibill
