It is what it is

Sometimes it seems that the set point for most people and the organizations they create and inhabit is anything but collaborative. I often wonder why it is that people have so much difficulty in building bridges and or crossing the ones that are in front of them. My master's degree in theology offered some perspective, to be sure, but this question continues to haunt me.

I have a client who is fond of saying 'it is what it is,' and so with her wisdom, I move on. Sometimes I focus on making the bridge itself seem more inviting or try to bring people together in painting a compelling picture of the other side. That is fairly easy, as most of our projects bring people together around issues about which they care deeply: children and families, early care and education, children's mental health, aging services. I know how fortunate I am to be able to work with people who are not only doing good work but do good.

However, it can be easy to do good, it is by measure, much, much harder to do better. Sometimes collaboration is the key to unleashing what it takes.