Merriam –Webster dictionary defines context as
1: the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning
2: the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs (e.g.) environment, setting
Lately, it seems that context is increasingly important
to evaluate in light of our political activities, mounting sexual harassment complaints & verified incidents, religious typology, and gender inequities, to name a few.
As a young court manager, I recall a day at work when the county’s sheriff came to my office and said “you and your girls…” True, court staff, at that time, was all women. This took place in 1988. My reply was to remind the sheriff that ‘the girls’ were court employees. Now, back to context. Was his comment disrespectful? Perhaps. Was it intentional? I don’t know. Should I have made more of his comment than I did? I don’t think so.
In Judith Glaser’s book Conversational Intelligence, she says, “we need to become masters at observing our inner word of desires and observing the impact our actions have on others”(p.104). I agree – especially given our current news overload, quick and reactive responses, and judgment without verification of intent, facts, and truth.
When coaching skills are engaged, they can benefit your coaching colleague by going deeper into the dialogue to examine context – Why is this person saying or writing this, at this time, and in this moment? Scrutiny and understanding of context allow coaching colleagues to determine which leadership attributes to bring to the situation.
So, why wait for a manager or senior leader or executive officer to fail or derail in his or her role, and then seek services to regain performance? Proactive organizations will create mechanisms, including coaching, to assess context and determine appropriate action.
In an executive leadership program in 1994 that I attended, our Program Dean answered a participant’s question about best leadership skills to develop with this profoundly easy, yet extremely difficult and accurate statement – It all depends.
Indeed!
