What a great way to start the new year! Getting my (virtual) 5-time jacket on #DisrupTV on Vala Afshar and R. Ray Wang’s 1st episode of 2023 and 305th episode overall! So much fun talking about managing chaos in today’s business world. You can see the episode here and below.
Belhaven Bridge, Scotland (Adobe Photo)
Happy 2023! Now, don’t ask me why, but I’ve been thinking about the difference between unintended and unanticipated consequences. Is there one? Does it matter? Given my role with companies, I think it does - a lot.
To me, unintended consequences are those that one is, was, or should have been, aware of if the proper due diligence or research into the project, product, or “thing” that caused the unintended consequence had been done… it was predictable or possible, no matter how remote the odds. For whatever reason, no measures were taken to eliminate or mitigate or address those consequences. They should have been - not necessarily implemented immediately, but on hand in case. It’s part of being responsible and accountable.
Unanticipated consequences are different. These are consequences one couldn’t have anticipated, have seen as even remotely possible or probable, that one couldn’t even have thought of or imagined. In this case, no amount of due diligence or research would have led to predicting the consequence. This does not negate the responsibility of acting to remedy the situation upon learning of it, but unlike unintended consequences, it does alleviate the responsibility of knowing the consequence could happen.
Consequences can be (hopefully) small, minor, and unharmful or they can be severe and long-lasting. As you work on existing and new things this year, stop for a moment and ponder the potential unintended consequences - and see how you can address them so they need not happen. And tell me what you think. Am I defining the two the way you do?
Tis the season of gift giving. After 30-some years of waiting to live full-time in Maine, my gift came last year. It’s virtually impossible not to live a life of gratitude here. Every second is unique: the daily and seasonal patterns of tides, birds, currents, weather, winds, plush greens to silhouetted trees, glistening snow, thick clouds, sun and moon-rises and daily sunsets that are beyond human words. Nature’s power to cultivate gratitude abounds.
My hope for you and yours, now and throughout 2023, is gratitude. It’s all around you, at home, outside, work, everywhere, just look - the pansy pushing up through the ground, the sparkles on the snow, the success of a teammate, the delight of a child seeing a cool insect, the magic of the 20th time you’ve watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the branches waving in the wind. Look for the miracles all around you - inside and out. And show your appreciation and gratitude to those in your life, not just now when it’s expected, but in 4 weeks, or 15, when it’s not expected. That is the best gift of all.
Deb is here to reveal to organizations their beginner's mind while giving them the tools to execute.
