The Wisdom Is Already in the Room

As I often do, I’ve been sitting with an idea: it’s amazing how much wisdom fills just about any room.

That led me to ask: What if we already have the answers we seek, but haven’t known how to mine them?

When we need clarity, we often look outside ourselves. We seek advice, listen to podcasts, ask experts, and gather more information. All of that is good, and I do it, too.

But that search can miss one of the most valuable resources available to us: our own wisdom, and the wisdom of our friends, colleagues, families, and communities.

While much of my work happens one-on-one through coaching, I also work with small groups through my coaching circle, the Transformation Game Experience, and facilitated conversations at conferences.

The benefits of small-group work are significant.

Small groups create connection, engagement, interaction, inspiration, and practical solutions — the very things people want when they attend a meaningful program.

And with thoughtful facilitation, small groups can do more than create good conversation. They can help people address big, systemic, industry-wide, or community-wide issues by surfacing the wisdom already present in the room.

This is part of why I talk so often about giving ourselves permission to pause and creating room to think. Wisdom needs space before it becomes clear.

This realization comes, in part, from my years as a strategic planning facilitator. Then, as now, the work was not simply to create a plan. The work was to help people identify key issues, surface useful wisdom, name what mattered, and find a clear path forward.

The wisdom is already in the room. Sometimes we simply need to give ourselves permission to pause long enough to hear it.

You could start by naming the biggest frustration you’re dealing with, then convene a small group to explore solutions.

And if you want guidance on bringing the wisdom in your room to the surface, email me at Ann@AnnRanson.com.