Can I get your attention?

I have been working with different government (city, county and state) clients for several years, and I regularly work on-site at the client’s office. Generally, I park my car far enough away to get bonus steps in my day, and when weather permits, I also go for a walk during lunch. Once I worked on the capitol campus for the Department of Social and Health Services. If you are not familiar with the Washington State Capitol, there is beautiful landscaping and pathways initially designed by James Dawson of Olmsted Brothers (circa 1930) and was expanded in later years by leading landscape architects (more on campus history here). Connecting the Capitol to Capitol Lake is a gravel switchback walking path that draws state employees and locals outside when it isn’t raining. The proximity of these features (landscape, flora, walking) is a definite “plus” of working on the Capitol campus.

On my walks I noted something very troublesome as everyone was eyes down as they walked, really subdued. It’s possible they were deep in thought, as government work offers its host of internal and external challenges. But no eye contact. This drove me nuts. While I don’t want to be a nuisance, I decided to try a social experiment. I called it the “Smile Campaign” and the objective is to try to get a smile. Here’s how it works (in case you want to start yourself:

• Make a point to make eye contact with each and every person you pass
• Without it being too weird, make eye contact (you know, people will look at you if they sense they are being stared down)
• Say “hi” (whether they look at you or not)

What I loved about this smile campaign was the shock and surprise in their response the first time. AND it seemed to work, because the next time I approached them they were also looking for me and sometimes even initiated the welcome. The objective was met, and it brought me such crazy joy.

I continue to experiment with various social engagement techniques. For example, the element of surprise. The photos in this blog are from a single day of meetings (we are in COVID times for context), and I would “show up” to different meetings sporting a new hat or hairstyle using wigs. This was a special day to celebrate a large technology implementation. As the Project Manager of this implementation, I planned the event and coordinated with the project sponsors and leadership to ensure we had proper recognition and engagement in the celebration events. We needed an element of fun and woo, and the leaders needed to deliver the proper celebration tenor. In the previous meetings, I began to infuse the mood with my antics. It wasn’t too much of a distraction, and the objective was accomplished so that by the afternoon event the leadership team was prepared for the celebration.

My last example about doing the unexpected is around washing buckets, joyfully washing buckets. In last week’s post I mentioned I am a floral intern. An unpaid floral intern for Rose and Blossom. I am quite content in my career as a management consultant, and don’t intend to open a flower business. AND on my bucket list I had always wanted to work in a flower shop, so as I transition to establish T.A.S. in Spokane, I sought an opportunity to address this wish, on the condition I would not get paid (although this detail really pains the Owner, Terri with guilt, but it’s part of the deal), as I get paid with dead flowers.

Now, onto the buckets. I am there to work in whatever way is needed for the shop. Given I technically have a “desk job,” this floral internship is hard, physical work at times. We received a shipment of old white buckets that needed to be cleaned, so I jumped in to wash the buckets. And I did this with a big smile under my mask. There I was, sloshing around the water, sanitizing the buckets, scrubbing off dirt and grime, and stripping a layer of skin off my hands, while I exclaimed, this is “so much fun.” In my head I sang little songs and attacked the stacks and stacks of buckets. Two floral designers worked on arrangements behind me, and periodically I would step away from the sink as they would add fresh water to their bouquet. I was wet from the water, sweaty under the mask and in complete bliss. I don’t know why exactly I choose “complete bliss,” other than inside me it felt wonderful to exude warmth and happiness to the flower shop. To honor their hard work and internally sing and hum to compliment the messy. I am sure the explorer Daniel Boone, while he trailblazed to open new settlements, hunted for the family’s next meal and crossed rivers, he didn’t sit around and complain as he fulfilled his mission. And neither will I, as I wash buckets.

In my work, and as I engage with others, I want to draw your attention to the impact you have on others. I want to get serious about being silly! When we do the state’s work of policy and service, we can be more creative when we infuse joy into our work. It matters how you show up. When we navigate through difficult conversations and desire to move our community to a better place, we have to show up. In order to co-design new and shared hope, we must acknowledge our individual passion and commitment, reveal our pain and fears, honor where we have been.

I believe as we work with others and try to optimize the Ubuntu, I am because we are, we must be intentional on how we show up. The expression we have on our face, and engagement we have with a stranger. The courage to lean into the mood and be surprisingly authentic. To muster curiosity and joy in even the most mundane or laborious tasks. We are the explorers of our time, trailblazing a new tomorrow. I need you and you need me. Ubuntu.