Recognizing and Encouraging Spiraling Up

​When in the Fog you have two directions you can take to get out of it. Spiraling Down is the easy way. As I noted in my last post, your self-talk is made in statements that, left unchallenged, become more absolute. Spiraling Up, on the other hand, takes effort, skill, and intention both in doing it yourself and helping others to also. The biggest difference is that the self-talk migrates quickly to questions and those questions add information that allows us to be effective and productive in our responses to the situation that initiated the Fog.
 
SPIRALING UP
Questions

• What are my facts? (Facts are seen, heard, touched, tasted or smelled—everything else is interpretation/assumption)
• What are my assumptions?
• Am I exaggerating?
• Is there more to this story? (that answer is consistently yes)
• How else can I look at this?
• How can I help the situation?
• Who can I engage to gain more information, get another perspective, pursue a solution?
• What is my best response?

 
Behaviors

• Ask questions
• Seek input and information from others
• Listen
• Suggest options, ideas—maybe even wild ones (like let’s all work from home!)
• Identify and communicate issues that may not be in their area but they noticed and want to offer observation and support
• Consider multiple options, especially ones that have not been considered before
• Willingness to engage in productive conflict—stirs the pot so the bottom doesn’t burn
• Gives others the benefit of the doubt—assumes good intentions and that people are doing the best they can
• Invites others into conversation and problem-solving
• Optimistic and positive (not rose-colored glasses or to the ignorance of an issue but confidence in the team’s ability to solve it)
• Challenges gossip or destructive conversations to stop its perpetuation

 
To encourage yourself and others to chose to Spiral Up and do that work, ask the above questions. Remember to lead with compassion, empathy, and grace. Yes, I will keep beating that drum!
 
Now, if you are there and your team is there, you are not there! Sustaining Spiraling Up takes attention and reinforcement. You have to notice these behaviors when they happen; acknowledge people (yourself included) when they engage in this manner; and celebrate these behaviors and efforts as wins.
 
And one more thing…when you get one of these wins, be sure to take notes on how you got there so you can reference back and do it again, and again. We need to analyze and learn from success. That is how you sustain Spiraling Up.
 
What Spiral Up celebrations do you have this week?