Mind the Gap

By Susan D. Rostkoski, Principal Consultant

When visiting the city of London, travelers on the Tube, that city’s underground train line, quickly become accustomed to the phrase, “mind the gap.” This is an audible or visual warning issued to rail passengers to take caution while crossing the horizontal, and in some cases vertical, spatial gap between the train doorway and the station platform edge.

Perhaps a more poetic use of the phrase could be attributed to French composer Claude Debussy when he said, “Music is the space between the notes.”

These are two different viewpoints of the same concept: the value in what isn’t there and being aware that the absence has an impact. The first definition is cautionary. It is meant to guide, protect, or warn. It is inserted into the experience of every traveler because each and every one needs to hear the message. The second is enriching, meant to have the hearer listen to all of the music being performed, including the rests, the stops, and the pauses.

Rather than looking at the gap or the silence as a negative, let’s ask ourselves some questions about how these concepts can serve us and our work. For instance:

· Am I rushing the “tempo” of my work environment to the degree that I miss a quiet opportunity, one that doesn’t shout to get my attention?

· Am I creating space for others to express diverse opinions and bring forward new ideas, particularly ones that may be contrary to my own?

· Do I set expectations that I will be the person who stops to listen and welcome enlightenment and correction?

· Do I notice who is not present or not speaking or not engaged in their work or with others in their workplace?

· Do I pause long enough to see the gap between my intentions and my actions?

Author Kern Beare, founder of the Difficult Conversations Project and author of a book by the same name, states it this way:

“Can we entertain what we might be missing? Can we imagine how having a fuller picture, rather than negating our view, expands it—giving us some common ground from which we can move forward? If we can imagine those things, then perhaps we’re ready to have a productive conversation with someone who holds an opposing view. For example, allowing us to discover more completely what is true and to make each other real.”

What you do with the space between the notes, the everyday cautions, and your willingness to experience them, will determine your impact at work, at home, and in your community.

As always, please contact us with any questions you may have, or if we can help you accomplish your mission (strategic-cc.com).