The Danger of Average | Monitor | Reset
Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS.
You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach:
Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: an energy (good or bad) word and it’s meaning
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge
LEARN
Something Worth Sharing
Danger of Average
I remember a few years ago when one of our children hadn’t done as well as hoped in one of their end of year exams. While chatting about it, they said that they had still done ‘better than average’. Comparing to a number that is supposed to capture the point between the best and the worst doesn’t really help explain what was going on for them - or how we could best support them.
Average is often the ‘one-size fits all’ approach - except it doesn’t. It caters for those in the middle, which might mean absolutely no-one. I read recently about designing seats for pilots and that they decided to make a chair that was ‘average’. This meant most pilots were uncomfortable. The answer - as is often the case - was to produce a chair that could be customised and adapted by each pilot that sat in it.
Our child also needed customised support with their studies. Each of our three children has a different style of learning, as we all do - meaning there is no point in an average approach! This applies to teams and business cultures - if you take the approach of average, you’re missing the point.
ENERGY
An emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s
Monitor
The word MONITOR is directly from Latin MONITOR - meaning "one who reminds, admonishes, or checks", also "an overseer, instructor, guide, teacher".
The word ‘monitor’ has its root in the word MEN meaning "to think" (source also of Latin memini "I remember, I am mindful of” ).
Monitoring can some times suggest being overly watched - and yet it perhaps is actually a gentler form of guidance.
ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference
Discomfort
See if you can do something that isn’t as comfortable as you’d like or are used to. Perhaps try something new, volunteer, have a challenging conversation…
PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)
“What are my real strengths?”
Everyone has particular strengths that they favour - what are yours? If you’re not sure, perhaps discuss this with someone you know and trust.
I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question
SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition - my gratitude or to be celebrated.
Sparks of Inspiration
This is a lovely word that a dear friend / colleague has been talking about recently. It made me think of those little sparks of inspiration or ideas that can often lead to bigger things. They can come in all sorts of ways and often at the most unexpected moment - but they hold value nonetheless. I’m shouting out all of those little sparks of inspiration.
BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
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LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis.
I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:
L: what have you learned?
E: what’s your energy / feeling word
A: what’s one thing you need to do?
P: what are you thinking / processing?
S: who or what can you shout out?
