Maybe you’ve noticed we like to push our community, clients, and everyone else out of their comfort zones. We’re kind of a broken record when it comes to finding comfort in the uncomfortable. Our CEO has it tattooed on her arm; we are nothing if not really, really consistent.
Our commitment to uncomfortable is why started the Uncomfortable Community Conversations quarterly events to highlight issues affecting our businesses and community.
We’ve tackled the skills crisis, systemic bias towards WOSBs in our financial systems, and in September, we’re gonna talk perimenopause and the impact it has on business owners.
Here is what we’ve learned when we stop being nice and start getting real.
It starts with a conversation.
Funny how often we avoid face-to-face because it’s uncomfortable and easier to complain about it over social or with those who think the same way. When you understand another person’s point of view, story, and experience, it diffuses the anger, and it replaces it with empathy, and when that happens, we can find common ground.
Unless you’re an asshole, in that case, don’t come to the event. We don’t have a problem calling you out.
Less talking, more listening.
We intentionally keep the panel or speaking part short and to the point. The power of these events is in the group discussions and the wine afterward. This isn’t about us talking at you; it’s focused on finding common threads, listening, and learning. We built the structure to increase participation and understanding. When you register, you share your opinion, which is then shared with the group at the event (don’t worry, we don’t list names). We then open the convo with Kim introducing the subject, the speakers, and the format, which includes smart people educating on the topic, and then facilitated group discussions.
We end with each group reporting what they learned, and then we all take shots… or have another glass of wine.
We’ve struck a chord.
You keep showing up, engaging, and sharing. In fact, we have to kick you guys out half the time.
What this tells us is we’re meeting a need by tackling the uncomfortable in the only way we know how, awkwardly.
Each UCC is driven by you: what you want to discuss and what is keeping you up at night.
We are living in a polarizing world; let’s at least look each other in the eye when we disagree.
See you on September 24th for the Perimenopause chat.
We’d better see men in the room; we show up for each other, no matter the topic.
