Friday 4 May 2012

Unprepared for Snow in Arizona!!


I was surprised (even shocked) to come over the top of a hill in Arizona and find a foot of snow on the ground... After all, Arizona has a reputation for hot dry weather and desert - so I had packed clothes for hot, dry conditions! Now here I was driving into Flagstaff where the weather was 2C (35F) dressed in shorts and sandals. I felt a bit foolish getting out of the car dressed for summer in a place that was clearly having 'winter' and realizing that my research and planning had been based on the inaccurate assumption that what happens in Phoenix applies to all of Arizona. My intention was to go rafting through the Grand Canyon and have the opportunity to see one of the most spectacular desert environments in the world... and then I discovered that the water temperature in the Colorado River would be 4C (40F). I own a dry suit, neoprene and lots of cold water paddling gear - I kayak about 10 months of the year in Canada where cold water is normal... but none of it was with me in Arizona! I found myself scrambling to find what I needed and questioning whether I would be able to even take the trip. I don't know about you - but I don't like that feeling of being unprepared... of realizing that my planning was inadequate... or realizing that my mistakes could put me in an uncomfortable (even dangerous) situation.
I was fortunate to find 2 stores still open at 7pm in Flagstaff - one was a gear store that sold wool socks ($25) and merino wool shirts ($95) and one was a bargain store that just happened to have several pairs of micro-fibre tights for $5.00 - a reasonable addition to my shorts and wools socks to keep warm! So while it wasn't a perfect outcome, it was a reasonable solution - but it cost more $$, took most of the evening and left me feeling somewhat stressed and uncertain when I had planned for relaxation... In the end, the trip was spectacular, the scenery was amazing and I was adequately warm - and next time, I plan to research more carefully!

How often do we find ourselves basing our decisions on inaccurate or incomplete information? How are our results affected when we don't 'know' what we need to know? What level of additional stress is created when we have to deal with unexpected crises?

In our organizations, it is not possible to know everything that is going on and the information we are missing can have serious implications. Of course it's hard to identify how missing information may be impacting our decisions - after all we frequently don't know what we don't know, until we find ourselves faced with the results of not knowing. However there are numerous tools and strategies we can use to help reduce the risk... There are 2 upcoming sessions in Ottawa ON Canada  that are outlined below that can help.

Organization Workshop with Barry Oshry on June 7-8 - a not to be missed opportunity to learn from a leading expert in this field.


Conflict in Organizations - October 1 - an opportunity to explore the link between conflict, success and profitability - and where the "leakage" may be costing you!

Date: Friday October 1, 2012
Time: 8:30 - 4:30pm
Location: Country Inn and Suites, 578 Terry Fox Dr, Kanata ON
Cost: $369.00 + HST (before 31 July, 2012) / $447.00 starting Aug 1, 2012


Ruth Sirman is a veteran in the world of workplace mediation specializing in assisting groups to find practical and workable solutions to seemingly intractable conflicts. Her professional practice takes her across North America working with federal, provincial and territorial governments, corporations, NGO’s, churches, communities and the courts. She designed and teaches the acclaimed Power to Resolve Program including modules on Discovering Your Resolution Quotient, I’m OK – It’s Everyone Else Who Needs Help!!, Mastering Difficult Situations and People You Find Challenging, From Discord to Dialogue, Organziational Conflict 911. Her website is www.canmediate.com