By Dr. Donald L. Green, 21 February 2023
I fell into the negativity trap last week and had to take some time to reevaluate what I focused on, and then I did it again. I spend much of my time seeking knowledge, looking for betterment, and trying to bring others along on the journey. I do this with great introspection because, with self-evaluation, improvement can happen. This week’s ruminations result from last week’s insights and internal discussions.
1) ONE thing weighing on my mind is I spend too much time on social media, specifically on Facebook and the MSF RiderCoaches Private Group. Like our students, the group members have various experiences and opinions based on their previous exposures. It is straightforward, much too easy, to disagree and get trapped in the negativity of judgment toward comments that don’t align with our values or knowledge. Moreover, context, situation, and word usage sometimes get in the way and elevate conversations – probably beyond their worth. Without in-person dialogue, listening fully, seeing facial expressions, and understanding context, the threads become fraught with defensiveness. It is common for the space to become less conducive to learning and more conducive to arguments. What’s worse – I can sometimes be at fault. So as a facilitator, how can I improve things, or should I remove myself from the situation? It is a problem for someone like me who wants to be involved in a positive learning environment.
2) TWICE in the last week, discussions have led to the professionalism of RiderCoaches, highlighting areas of weak knowledge in the curriculum we use – or the paucity of desire and motivation to do a deeper dive into understanding it. For some time now, I have believed in a balance of knowing and doing. Theory and action must be balanced because of variances within our student community and our understandings as RiderCoaches. For example, there are artists and engineer RiderCoaches within our community. Still, students need architects to take the artists’ vision and the engineers’ safety/technical expertise to provide the appropriate mix of information for a novice student. Architects are building a house of fundamental knowledge with an excellent foundation to allow our students to continue learning about being better riders on public roads. If we as coaches do not develop and grow ourselves in a positive manner, how can we expect students to?
3) One of my most influential mentors has a phrase used somewhat regularly called “Vision & Vectors.” Where you want to go takes a “vision” or what I would call a strategic end goal. The “vector” would then be the pathway to the goal. For the last ten (10) years of my adult life, I have been on a path to a goal established when I knew less than I do now. I was a different person then, and over time, the strategic vision continues to change as the knowledge accumulates and provides a different perspective. There have been THREE significant revisions, and the pathways (vectors) have changed, but that goal’s vision has remained.
However, time changes us. Outside influences make their impacts, and reevaluations of importance happen. We all need mentors and should mentor others, but the give and take can sometimes be unbalanced and costly., Most recently, my efforts have been overwhelmingly time-consuming, and the results have not been as envisioned. Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know. So, we reevaluate those efforts, as I have been doing for some time. This community is exceptional, but not the only community. I hope it continues to exist with the values it started with and have the impact its mission states. The people supporting its mission are essential and some of the best I’ve ever met.
I hope the ruminations inspire you to “put it out there” and seek more. If it interests you, try Tribe Talk Happy Hour on Wednesdays, you never know where we will go with the discussions.
Have a great week!
– Don
