In this engaging conversation, Heather and Leah explore the themes of community transformation, resilience, and the importance of creating safe spaces for risk-taking. They discuss the metaphor of flailing and flying as a representation of learning and growth, emphasizing the need for leaders to foster environments where individuals can experiment and learn from their failures. The conversation highlights the significance of joy in the process of flailing and the necessity of self-compassion and reflection in personal growth.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this episode belong solely to the guest and do not necessarily reflect those of their employer or affiliated organizations.

Host: Heather Gates, MPH, Owner & Strategy Partner, Human-Centered Strategy, LLC 

Guest: Leah Ferguson, DrPH, Executive Director, Thrive Asheville 

Takeaways

• Flailing is a necessary part of learning and resilience.
• Creating safe enough to fail spaces is crucial for growth.
• Leadership requires adaptability.
• Discomfort is a critical part of the learning process.
• Joy can be found in the flailing and experimentation.
• Your value is not tied to your productivity.
• We must support each other in the flail.

Chapters

• 02:43 Exploring Community Transformation
• 05:24 Flailing and Flying: A Metaphor for Resilience
• 11:33 Creating Safe Enough to Fail Spaces
• 17:31 The Role of Leadership in Risk-Taking
• 23:29 Navigating Discomfort and Growth
• 29:24 The Importance of Joy in the Flail

Quoted Resources & Tools in this Episode

• https://thecynefin.co/team/dave-snowden/ 
• https://hbr.org/2007/11/a-leaders-framework-for-decision-making 
• https://www.mos.org/why-did-dinosaurs-have-feathers 

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