Comments on: What’s the Context for Challenge? http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/ A weekly stimulant for those who lead Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:56:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46564 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:36:20 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46564 Krista, This comment makes a ton of sense! Thanks for sharing it. It seems like a gauge that would be really useful both for coaches of athletes/teams and business people/teams. Thanks for joining the conversation. D. Krista,
This comment makes a ton of sense! Thanks for sharing it. It seems like a gauge that would be really useful both for coaches of athletes/teams and business people/teams.
Thanks for joining the conversation.
D.

]]> by: krista goldstine-cole http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46206 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:52:39 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46206 Mihalyi Csikczentmihalyi, the author of Flow, argues that we need a mix of challenge and support to achieve that wonderful state (which he calls "flow"), in which we lose our self, our sense of time, our resistence, that place where we soar towards committed achievement. Too much challenge and we are paralyzed. Too much support and we just don't bother--why would we? We can't see ourselves in the work that's going on. Finding a mix of challenge and support that encourages, strengthens, and inspires is a tremendous act of leadership. It's also remarkably selfless because it requires us to relinquish our ideas about where others "should" be or what they "should" need. Mihalyi Csikczentmihalyi, the author of Flow, argues that we need a mix of challenge and support to achieve that wonderful state (which he calls “flow”), in which we lose our self, our sense of time, our resistence, that place where we soar towards committed achievement.

Too much challenge and we are paralyzed. Too much support and we just don’t bother–why would we? We can’t see ourselves in the work that’s going on.

Finding a mix of challenge and support that encourages, strengthens, and inspires is a tremendous act of leadership. It’s also remarkably selfless because it requires us to relinquish our ideas about where others “should” be or what they “should” need.

]]> by: Marty Mater http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46184 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:13:33 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46184 I heard only a few minutes of Dan's address to the Joint Education Conference this morning, but was impressed with the material he shared on 'energizing' people. I was also surprised that challenge was so low on the list of energizers. I'm lucky, I guess, that when my boss challenges me to do a new task, I feel that his confidence in me is all that is necessary. But I also know that he supports my efforts, and will constructively help me reach the goal (and then act like it was all my doing). That makes it easy to accept the next challenge. I hope to read more about this topic from Dan's materials. I heard only a few minutes of Dan’s address to the Joint Education Conference this morning, but was impressed with the material he shared on ‘energizing’ people. I was also surprised that challenge was so low on the list of energizers. I’m lucky, I guess, that when my boss challenges me to do a new task, I feel that his confidence in me is all that is necessary. But I also know that he supports my efforts, and will constructively help me reach the goal (and then act like it was all my doing). That makes it easy to accept the next challenge.
I hope to read more about this topic from Dan’s materials.

]]> by: TIP Lady http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46162 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:41:38 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46162 Mark, You just desribed the Power of One! Keep doing what you are doing and know that You Make A Difference! The TIP lady Mark,

You just desribed the Power of One! Keep doing what you are doing and know that You Make A Difference!

The TIP lady

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46002 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:41:02 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46002 Good reality check. Good reality check.

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46001 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:38:38 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46001 Semi-sweet? Milk? White? Imported? What does the research say? Semi-sweet?
Milk?
White?
Imported?
What does the research say?

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46000 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:37:07 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-46000 great story! great story!

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45999 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:35:00 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45999 Berri, Thanks. I like that distinction at the end: challenge is not for "start-up" but for building momentum. Makes me wonder if I tried to get my little brother/mentee trying to run a 5K before I had sufficient trust at the base. Hmmm. D. Berri,
Thanks. I like that distinction at the end: challenge is not for “start-up” but for building momentum. Makes me wonder if I tried to get my little brother/mentee trying to run a 5K before I had sufficient trust at the base. Hmmm.
D.

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45998 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:30:52 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45998 Tip Lady, When I taught I always told the kids to come back. When kids came back and enter the sacred space of the teachers lounge I saw teachers light up. They didn't care if they were the valedictorian, the captain, the so-called average student, or the kid they never thought would make it. They lit up. And the ones they remembered were the ones who challenged them! Thanks for your great reminders. D. Tip Lady,
When I taught I always told the kids to come back. When kids came back and enter the sacred space of the teachers lounge I saw teachers light up. They didn’t care if they were the valedictorian, the captain, the so-called average student, or the kid they never thought would make it. They lit up.
And the ones they remembered were the ones who challenged them!
Thanks for your great reminders.
D.

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45997 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:28:12 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45997 Joe, Glad it went so well. You ARE challenging :-) D. Joe,
Glad it went so well. You ARE challenging :-)
D.

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45996 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:25:15 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45996 John, That's one powerful image: Dressing dead people. Yikes. I suppose it's okay if you're an undertaker? (Sorry, couldn't resist.) The 22 energy connectors sounds interesting. D. John,
That’s one powerful image:
Dressing dead people. Yikes.
I suppose it’s okay if you’re an undertaker?
(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
The 22 energy connectors sounds interesting.
D.

]]> by: dan http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45995 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:22:05 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45995 K - Nice connection between "challenge" and "vision" or purpose. Most people really want to contribute to something worthy. D. K -
Nice connection between “challenge” and “vision” or purpose. Most people really want to contribute to something worthy.
D.

]]> by: danmulhern http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45994 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:46:01 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45994 Mark John, This reminds me of a great line often (but apparently incorrectly) attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." Dan Mark John,
This reminds me of a great line often (but apparently incorrectly) attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:
“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”
Dan

]]> by: danmulhern http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45993 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:42:35 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45993 Jack, Every time you write I think: I'll bet people love to work for him. D. Jack,
Every time you write I think:
I’ll bet people love to work for him.
D.

]]> by: danmulhern http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45992 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:41:15 +0000 http://www.danmulhern.com/wordpress/2008/06/whats-the-context-for-challenge/#comment-45992 Lea, Good addition. I think it's interesting that you thought of "challenge as competition." It made me re-read to see if that was what I wrote. I wouldn't have been surprised, but I really didn't make that connection in this RFL. So, that's fascinating to me that you assumed challenge meant competition. I am guessing that Baryshnikov and even Gates were challenged to excel but not necessarily in a cut-throat competitive way. Tiger Woods is in a really competitive environment, to be sure, but I think his standard to which he's challenged is himself, is getting below par, is hitting each shot exactly where he wants it to go. No? Still, I think you're right on. Some people don't want to be compared and set against others. But don't we still want them to feel challenge? Challenge to fulfill their potential. Challenge to learn new skills. Challenge to deliver superb service? D. Lea,
Good addition. I think it’s interesting that you thought of “challenge as competition.” It made me re-read to see if that was what I wrote. I wouldn’t have been surprised, but I really didn’t make that connection in this RFL. So, that’s fascinating to me that you assumed challenge meant competition.

I am guessing that Baryshnikov and even Gates were challenged to excel but not necessarily in a cut-throat competitive way. Tiger Woods is in a really competitive environment, to be sure, but I think his standard to which he’s challenged is himself, is getting below par, is hitting each shot exactly where he wants it to go. No?

Still, I think you’re right on. Some people don’t want to be compared and set against others. But don’t we still want them to feel challenge? Challenge to fulfill their potential. Challenge to learn new skills. Challenge to deliver superb service?
D.

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