A lot has happened since my last blog and rather than jump into the fray, I wanted to take some time to absorb this rather than simply react.

I’ve listened to a variety of perspectives on the current civil unrest and without a doubt, we need things to improve.  Let me restate that…we need to greatly improve the current state.  How we do that seems to be the bigger question.

Change agents have been heard these past few weeks.  They have the megaphone and people are listening.  We can no longer sit quietly as inactivity translates into acceptance.  Radical thinking like abolishment or defunding of law and order is an overreach without thought to the well being of society.  There is bad behavior that has been tolerated for too long but to throw the baby out with the bath water is simply irresponsible.  Couple that with inflammatory language interjected when respectful dialog is the norm during problem solving and you get a monologue.

Problem solvers … do just that.  Consultants and negotiators and subject matter experts and people who have gained decades of experience are best suited to be involved in creating meaningful solutions for the wickedly complex issues we face today.  This may include politicians and police chiefs and military dignitaries as well as stakeholders from each aspect of the affected parties.  All must be heard and all must listen.

Leaders often possess traits found in change agents and problem solvers.  We may have experienced an occasional generalist leader with specific traits that could do it all themselves.  Unfortunately, the issues of civil unrest we currently face are a heavy lift that we, as a country…and as a global population have failed to succeed at so far.  Leadership is influence.  The greatest leaders need to be at the table and stick to their part while the rest of the stakeholders and solution providers are heard as we arrive at a sustainable solution we can all be proud to be a part of.

Everyone must do their part and everyone must stop stereotyping and demonstrating bias based on their past.  As we look forward, we can’t dismantle the past.  It forms the path to how we got here.  Does selective memory serve us well?  I think it is how we regard the past, not whether it existed or not.

A special note to the very high percentage of law enforcement and military personnel that serve their communities with honor, love and respect, THANK YOU!  We enjoy our freedom and security because of you.  Senseless violence has no place in our society.  We appreciate all that you do to uphold order in the face of adversity, confusion and lawlessness.

Have a blessed weekend!