In January 2022, Carrie Fox set out on a blog series called Finding the Words because she had something to say. By the end of the year, you were doing more than listening. You were deeply in this work with her. And because of you, we’re keeping this series going, every week through 2023 and beyond. Our promise: Carrie will keep delivering these essays each Wednesday morning to further support your work as a communicator for change. Your promise: keep telling us how these insights are impacting and influencing your work.
Here are some of the most regularly shared columns. If you like what you see, then subscribe here.
Values at Work.
We will all have bad days and losses that can feel hard to swallow. Those moments may discourage you, but don’t let them distract you from your values. Because when your values are clear, the impact is undeniable.
Find the Good.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the uncertainty and chaos around us. It’s natural to feel lost. When you do, pause and take stock of the light you carry. Because in moments of chaos, you can always be the change.
Civility at Work.
Incivility at work is an intensifying reality. It can get the better of us and bring out the worst in us. This week, practice “ventilating your soul with tenderness,” and work to create spaces that foster civil conversation and muscle building. I think you’ll find the whole team gets stronger as a result.
Life Through a Different Lens.
The generation gap isn’t an excuse for disconnection and engagement—it’s an invitation to get closer. If you’re leading or managing a team, take this week’s column as a prompt to initiate conversations that can help build back the social support systems we’ve been losing in recent years.
Handle Hard Better.
Lean into what’s ahead. Grow through the hard moments. Embrace the adversity and the struggles thrown at you so you can be stronger, more prepared, and ready for what’s ahead. You are capable of great things, my friend. Don't let yourself forget it.
Good To Be Here.
While a “no-agenda” lunch with an old friend won’t solve the complexity of problems we face today, it is something—and something particularly important—to help counteract social isolation and build back up social networks. The real kind. Yes, it’s good to be together. And it’s due time that we take a break from our devices to make it happen.
Polarization at Work?
Political polarization is real and will likely grow in the coming months. Get ahead of it in your workplace by helping your team build the skills to navigate divisive conversations while actively supporting civic engagement.
Do You Know Your Impact?
You may not think your actions influence someone else’s path, but they do. Pause today and consider someone who has encouraged, inspired, or stood by you in a difficult moment. And reach out to them to say thank you. They may not even be aware of their impact on your life.
Where Will This Year Take You?
If you’re interested in long-term impact and viability, pay attention to the actions and practices you keep today. Because they'll guide where your organization goes from here.
Lessons From the Field.
It’s easy to believe that our team can clinch the win, just as we can imagine landing our own big wins at work. But those magic moments don’t come without conditioning, reflection, authenticity, and follow-through. Stay true to who you are, and keep your end goal in sight.
Tackling Tough Feedback.
If you want the process of delivering feedback to serve as an opportunity to deepen trust rather than to damage a relationship, then take time to understand the situation AND the person before rushing to assumptions or judgment. Being clear, candid, and consistent can help move your fear of feedback to a practice of love.
What If?
Whether you manage a big brand or a small startup, a team of thousands, or a team of two, there is power in every single one of your decisions: power to shift and shape society for good. So, I dare you to ask, and then explore more deeply, your individual power to make an impact. Consider the effect of your big decisions and your small ones, too. Then, ask again and again, What If?
What Are You Hearing?
Listening matters. If you're working for progress of any kind, you have a responsibility to listen—carefully and intentionally. Find ways to get closer to the audience, the content, and the presenter, and use these moments as opportunities to understand the information being shared with you. I guarantee you'll be surprised at how much you can learn.
Are You Capable Of This?
Your most significant contributions—to the world, your work, your team—cannot be defined by others. They will be determined by the actions you take and the values you practice.
It's Your Time.
So, pause with me for this moment in time. Set aside the lists, demands, and worries— just for a moment. And think: what tremendous power there is in how we choose to use our time, our most valuable asset.
What Gets Lost in Underestimation.
Rather than try to fit everyone into a preconceived mold, let’s identify and celebrate the characteristics that make us each unique and special. In doing so, we can unlock the best in each other and in ourselves. So find what’s being underestimated, and celebrate it.
Character Building.
Consider what you can do today, this week, or this month to fill up your character bank. What small ways can you focus your energy on someone other than yourself?
Thanks for Sharing.
There’s always something more to learn and something that might be getting in your way of learning too. I hope this learning list gets your mind going with new ideas and information and invites you to ask: what have you learned that’s getting in your way, and what are you missing now?
Life Lessons, Part II
It’s never too late to learn and never too late to love. There will never be enough time, so use the time you’re given today running after something, or maybe someone, that you love.
Life Lessons.
We can’t turn back time, but we can progress forward. So, if there is a person you believe you’re done learning from, I invite you to reach out to them today. Tell them that you were thinking about them. And then listen closely to whatever they have to share. You may be surprised by how much there is left to learn.
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