You go to give a whiteboard presentation. You pick up a marker.
But it’s dead. 💀
Happens all the time.
You then go through 5 stages of grief.
1. Denial: It’s not really dead. 2
. Bargaining: Shake it really hard, try to write with it.
3. Sadness: Pick up another.
4. Anger: Argh! This #@@!! one doesn’t work either!
5. Acceptance: Throw all dead markers in the trash.
Lesson learned: if I’m giving a white board talk, I bring backup markers!
(Those little devils seldom work the way they’re supposed to! 😈)
But this whiteboard marker situation also provides an opportunity for a leadership, culture, and values discussion at your organization.
⁉Are you the kind of company where people put dead markers back on the tray?
❓Or are you the kind of company where people know to refill, recycle, or throw away?
❓Are you the kind of company that recycles or uses refillable markers? ⁉Or do you keep buying the plastic, throwaway ones?
🤔 What do your white board marker habits say about your corporate culture and values?
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Laura Bergells is a professional story finder. She writes, coaches, teaches, and speaks. Check out her online courses at LinkedIn Learning.
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