These are some thoughts on people, organizations, conflict, and culture. It’s rooted in my ombuds and mediation work, but takes in other things that I study or follow, including history, gambling, conspiracy theories, jazz, and video games.
As a blog, it is a successor to From the Ombuds, which itself is a successor to my earlier Las Vegas and gambling-centric blogging on my own site (Die is Cast, and before that, Casino PTZ), Two Way Hard Three, and other places.
The name, “informed informality,” references one of the four standards of ombuds practice, informality in the sense of assistance that comes outside of formal administrative channels. The “informed” part should imply that, even though I am informal and even casual at times, I have put a lot of thought into this, and hopefully what I say is informed by something.
Have you ever been lost? You know the feeling—not sure which way is up, which is down, whether you are moving closer or farther from your destination. Maybe it doesn’t happen as often these days thanks to GPS and turn-by-turn navigation, but if you’ve ever gotten lost, you understand how demoralizing, how confusing it is. […]
When Everything Looks Strange Read More »
informed informalityI feel compelled to share some thoughts about an experience I had when I worked casino security. This isn’t a tale of a foiled robbery or other heroics. It’s not a story about seeing people at their worst or making a difference in someone’s life. No, it’s something a little more mundane, and hopefully relatable.
Why I Have Negative Knowledge (A Casino Security Reminiscence) Read More »
informed informalityWhat do we need from others to feel appreciated? And can being appreciated be better than being understood? In the past I have written about the importance of Mary Rowe’s concept of “microaffirmations,” small acts that, when practiced regularly, can promote belonging and improve a culture. Last week, I led nine workshops for Rebel Ready
Who Do We Appreciate? Read More »
informed informalityI have had the story of Orpheus and Eurydice on my mind, and not just because I recently saw Hadestown. A quick summary: Orpheus’s wife, Eurydice, died of a snakebite. The grieving Orpheus journeyed to the underworld, where he moved everyone with his singing, including the big bosses Hades and Persephone. They permitted him to
The Orpheus Syndrome, or When Asking Makes It Worse Read More »
informed informalityI had one of those moments where I absolutely said the wrong thing, to great comic effect. But what does that say about how we can communicate better with each other?
Brain Battles Mouth. Mouth Wins. Hilarity Ensues. Read More »
informed informalityI’ve been asked a lot about what the legacy of The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip is. I thought I had a good answer, but it turns out that I was wrong. Here’s why.
The Mirage’s Real Legacy Isn’t What I Thought Read More »
informed informalityReading Jared Poley’s Luck, Leisure, and the Casino in Nineteenth-Century Europe: A Cultural History of Gambling (a fine book on the subject), a 125-year old observation struck me as relevant to those of us who have questions about the future, which I guess we all do, since future events will affect us in the future.
Chance, Ignorance, and Human Behavior Read More »
informed informalityI recently saw a work of art that got me thinking quite deeply about communication. Nikita Gale’s TEMPO RUBATO (STOLEN TIME), consisting of a modified player piano, audio, and a lighting system, is currently exhibited as part of the Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Gale describes the installation as “a player
Stolen Time and Unexpectedly Friendly Cats Read More »
informed informalityHave you ever read something that just pops? Like, you are amazed that you’ve never seen this concept explained in this way, and you’re a little miffed that you haven’t done it yourself? Or is that just me? I’m asking because I recently had an experience like that, and I’d like to share it with
Seeing from Above and Below by Listening Read More »
informed informalityThe Pythia, or Oracle at Delphi, was sought out for her predictions. The high priestess of Apollo, the Greek god of music, prophecy, medicine, the sun, and assorted other odds and ends, she shared, on demand, prophecies divined from the god himself. The stories of her forecasts reveal a nearly universal human truth: we often
The Oracle, the Prophet, and Wishful Hearing Read More »
informed informalityLet’s take a look at how emergency preparedness can help us face everyday conflicts at work or school.
What We’re Preparing For (and When) Read More »
informed informalityEarly in my ombuds career, I was told that conflict, more often than not, is driven by unmet expectations. Talking with participants in dozens, if not hundreds of large and small conflicts through, I absolutely agree. Almost always, unsatisfied expectations, whether verbalized or not, are at the root of interpersonal and even institutional issues. One
Do Expectations Push or Punish Us? Read More »
informed informalityBystanders can play a crucial role in protecting themselves, others, and their institutions. Yet they often don’t feel empowered to speak or act. Why not? Drawing on the work of Mary Rowe we’ll explore why they stay silent and consider what much be done to elicit their participation.
What Do Bystanders Need Before They Speak? Read More »
informed informalityORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCT. 22, 2021 Email, like the talents of detective Adrian Monk of the eponymous USA network drama, is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it allows us to share our thoughts instantaneously, without regard to distance or cost. On the other, it allows us to share our thoughts instantaneously,
Five Email Mistakes That Exacerbate Conflict Read More »
informed informalityExploring the reasons I’m starting a new blog, and explaining what it means.
Introducing informal informality Read More »
informed informality