What Matters in This Moment: Leading Groups Through Uncertain Times

These are times that challenge us to Be Present in This Moment. There has been vast disruption of the world we once accepted as "normal: " Coronavirus has changed the ways we live and work. Massive demonstrations of concern regarding social justice issues, coupled with deep threats to democratic institutions, have transformed the political landscape. Environmental imperatives challenge us to fundamentally rethink the underlying assumptions of our economy and society. We are only beginning to comprehend the costs of this time, as well as the opportunities offered to be resilient, creative, and compassionate in the face of such disruption.

At my core, I am a teacher and a facilitator. I try to create environments in which people can work together, learn together, and otherwise collaborate to address the key issues of their lives. I've been doing this work for over forty years, and I have been fortunate to witness amazing people coming together to successfully navigate impossible challenges. It is with this Calling that I approach my work. Here are some questions we hope to answer: How can I BE IN THIS MOMENT, aware of who I am, the people I care about, the things that need to be noticed? How can I WORK WITH OTHERS, in small groups and large, to act upon What Matters with intelligence, integrity, creativity, and compassion? How can I BRING ABOUT MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE WORLD through my connections with others ― those with whom I have affinity and those who are strangers to me ― so we may work collaboratively to address the most complex and pressing issues of our times?How can WE, TOGETHER, FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS IN THIS MOMENT, in ways that allow us to create a new set of processes, structures, and institutions that truly serve the complex needs of our communities?

This book is about answering these questions, a resource for those who wish to embrace This Moment as caring leaders, colleagues, and community members. Some of us are managers, facilitators, and teachers, while others are concerned citizens, seeking ways to constructively influence the future. We may engage as individuals, work teams, and community members to address the challenges that call to us. Whatever vantage point and role speaks to you, I hope you find resources in these pages. As a companion volume to What Matters at Work (2020), we continue to build practices and capacity to lead groups through the important issues of these uncertain times.