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The year I turned 22 was the year I decided to trek across as many countries as I could cram into a short blitz after my third year of university.

My Hollywood idol, Audrey Hepburn, said it best in the movie Sabrina, “Paris is always a good idea.” The train rolled into Paris after dark and I had only a rough idea of where I would be staying. I was a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation in those days, now called Hostelling International. Hostelling is a great option when you are on a big trek as you can meet other travellers easily, exchange information on places to see, trade currency and forge new friendships.

Showing up in Paris after dark with a crumpled street map and an address to the nearest hostel was an almost unto itself because a stranger approached and offered to guide me to the hostel. I didn’t consider the seemingly kind offer to be a threat. But after we had walked for a few blocks, I noticed the streets seemed darker, narrower and utterly abandoned. Almost as soon as that thought swelled into worry, a women melted out of the darkness and grabbled my arm. “Where are you going?” she asked. When I told her where, she said “you are going the wrong way.” She pushed the stranger out of the way and marched me in the direction where I should have been headed. I am forever grateful.

The place I stayed that night was adorned with gargoyles. Gnarly, snarly, protective beasts. I fell asleep with the moon peeping into the window over the shoulder of one of the eternally perched creatures that was gazing out onto the street below. I slept soundly and safely.

The next day was the moment of almost. My first destination was the Louvre, and I was so excited. I bought a paper bag of almonds from a street-side nut vendor and headed for the underground train. I hadn’t gotten much farther than that when the itchy, burning feeling fired under my skin and clamped my throat. I realized that the almonds must have also contained peanut dust, perhaps from a common scoop, and having been highly allergic to peanuts since early childhood, I knew I was in big trouble.

I made it to the steps of the American Hospital of Paris somehow, but I only vaguely remember the details. I remember leaving the underground in a wheezy, rashy panic, and I believe a nearby cab driver drove me from there. Medical staff surrounded me the moment I arrived, which was almost a moment too late because my throat had completely closed at that point. The treatment was as swift and effective as the exposure to peanuts was rapid and deadly. My breath graciously returned, and the swelling settled.

A moment of almost is both a treacherous and beautiful concept—when the seemingly random events of an ordinary day can be life altering. I think of the many friends who have randomly orbited into my constellation and become so very dear. I think of the happenstance that has led me to various professional projects and unexpected achievements. I also think of the day I nibbled on a few almonds from a paper bag in Paris and nearly lost my life. I say, in retrospect, embrace the unexpected but always retain a healthy dose of caution. Live long, live safe and enjoy the adventures!

First, let’s talk about the symbol of the lotus flower. The growth of the lotus isn’t one of glamour and ease. The little plant starts out rooted in the mud and moves up through the sludge to break the surface. The lotus represents transformation and the ability to transcend obstacles. That’s the stuff a good company is made of too.

But when you think about it, if one or more people gather for a common purpose, it can get messy quick. Each person comes to the table with a whole constellation of experiences, expectations and unique ways of understanding and responding to the world. The very nature of people power means a whole lot of potential laced with unpredictability.

The world is saturated with theorists who have tried to figure this one out. From social psychologists to behavioural linguists and cultural anthropologists, there is no lack of research that tries to understand why humans do what humans do, especially when they come together as a group.

The behindwords thinking is that bringing people together as a company is one thing but harnessing all of that people potential under one united vision is what takes it to the next level.

That’s why words are so important! Words have meaning, they hold intent and create signals. Words are the glue that unites your team.

Your people are your greatest asset, they fire the engines, steer the boat and serve as the ambassadors for your company’s values.

Treat them well—and communicate with them clearly and often—you’ll be glad you did!

Building, creating and sustaining networks of people you know and trust is an essential part of being in just about every constellation of professional enterprise.

Often this aligns with a corporate hierarchy established with or without your influence—you know, those folks you need to keep in the loop.

However, it can also be those people who you’ve seen in action. Those folks who are knowledgeable, quick, well-connected and always open to learning more. These aren’t necessarily the biggest voices in the room, but they are the ones you need to pay attention to.

If something goes sideways, you need a good posse you can rely on for advice and support. Your network will be that team of people who have your back and can help you hold the reigns. You build this team with organizational currency, which means being there for others, putting your hand up to help, working hard, working smart, being a reliable source of information and expertise—and willing to learn where gaps may be present.

Three things, just three to always hold true while building your network in the know: always tell the truth, do the right things for the right reasons, and always be kind.

So what happens when you’re hit by a black swan, an unexpected event that you just didn’t see coming?

How do we feel when faced with an unknown-unknown?

Nothing can seem worse than the chaotic scrambling of an organization gone wild when the big “we had no idea” starts to echo through the boardroom.

A black swan event was coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book, “The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable” and the aftermath can be colossal.

In “Applied Crisis Communication and Crisis Management”, Timothy Coombs takes the concept and describes an unknown-unknown and the very real likelihood that there may be events we can’t see coming or information we simply don’t have or anticipate, even when we do our best to be prepared.

For example, an unexpected accident, fatality, catastrophic disaster or even just a big, messy mistake. The only thing to expect for sure is that the first hour or so is going to be a rough ride so hold on and stay calm.

Here’s a few tips to get started when a black swan lands:

• Start with what you do know and build from there.
• Provide regular updates to your team, your stakeholders and your media audiences—and be consistent.
• Create a sense of stability and provide reassurance—you can do this through language, tone and framing.
• Bring people together—create your network in the know and lean on their expertise.
• Don’t drop the ball, this is no time for boundaries. If something needs doing, do it, delegate it or assign it out but don’t drop it.
• Move fast, stay focused and trust yourself.

Roasted pumpkin soup?

July 1, 2022, and a happy Canada Day from beautiful British Columbia!

Today is the kind of day for eating big, crunchy salads and sipping lavender iced tea with friends on a sunny outdoor patio.

So why are we talking about soup? Isn’t soup reserved for those cold, fall evenings when you leave the office in the dark with a padding of yellow and burgundy leaves peppering the ground under your feet?

Chances are though, you may remember reading this little blog because opposites pair divinely in our memory.

When you want to stand out for your readers, make an impression—even if it’s a weird one—and create some memorable moments, don’t shy away from telling your story in a way that may seem a little different or better yet, hasn’t been done before!

Welcome to a thought exchange!

We’ve all been there, the bottom of the world where everything feels like it has fallen apart. Why, ultimately, is this sometimes a really good place to be?

For starters, it’s a time to see things in a way you wouldn’t otherwise, so a perspective shift. No one really likes the old phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and yet, it’s true. Adversity and hardship drive opportunities because survival in any form is part of human nature. Whether it’s a relationship turned upside down, a career disappointment, a family tragedy, or a health emergency, when you are out of options, you have to look harder, try harder, work harder or find another way.

So that all said, if we’ve all been to the bottom of life as we know it, doesn’t it make sense that we keep an eye out for those around us going through a tough time and help out?

There have been days when a simple smile from another person was the one thing that kept my spirits lifted and determined. It helps to know we are not alone in the world, especially when navigating challenges or a crisis.

If this is you, on this day, please know you will get through it and you will be stronger for it.

If you’d like to share a thought, feel free to email jo@behindwords.ca

Loves to you world!

Hello from Friday and the could be anywhere place!

We’ve all been to this place, it’s full of people, conversation, bit of laughter, bit of awkward boredom for those who really just want to go home.

It’s a moment-in-time place and you get to be here too. With your favourite friends, a few family members or colleagues after that long work week. We love this place, and why?

This is a place where stories are told. Information is shared and balance is negotiated. Who gets the bigger voice, who has the tallest tale? Not unlike the world of the wild, the place of people has a rhythm and expected norms.

Society, culture, interpersonal connection, it’s all here in this place that we love.

So, what place do words have here? Well, kind of like a museum curator, words and ideas can be collected, repurposed, planted and grown.

Ideas come from everywhere, the charming student mixing cocktails, the elderly couple exchanging a well-rehearsed endearment, the children bursting out of chairs while their haggard parents gulp down a quick meal.

This is the place to pay attention, because the world of people is the world where life exists. And we love this place!