2 New FACE Facilitators
 
Congratulations to our 2 newest FACE Facilitators. Despite being almost poles apart, Gillian Pearson (United Kingdom) & Justin Bayliss (Australia) became well-acquainted via a recently completed, online FACE Facilitator course. Both Gillian and Justin are seasoned trainers with international experience providing services to a long list of well-known business and corporate clients.
 
Gillian is a Chameleon-ANALYST and just a whisker away from being a Pedigree-ANALYST. Justin, on the other hand is a CONTRENTER who (most of the time) displayed strong tendencies towards his Controller-ENTERTAINER side. When you combine their FACEs with their course leader (Mike Francis), who is just about as Pedigree-CONTROLLER as one could get… well, you can just imagine the fun they had.
 
Gillian and Justin, welcome to the growing global family at FACE!
 
 
 
GOD HELP US!
by Mike Francis
 
Effective communication is not just measured by what we say and how we say what we say; it’s also determined by what we do. In fact, what we do in life and the legacy we leave behind for the generations to come, this is the heart, the soul and the truth of our communication. How we treat each other – individually, in communities, nation-to-nation, and as a global populace – is the real record of history. Let’s explore.
 
The disparities in our human existence are becoming increasingly confronting. The chasm of inequities between the fat and the skinny are ugly and offensive, to say the least. Not ‘fat’ and ‘skinny’ in the literal sense (although it is often the case); rather, more as a metaphor. If you’re not comfortable with those descriptors; then how about the ‘rich’ and the ‘poor’, or the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, or the ‘gorged’ and the ‘starving’. No matter which phrase we use, it’s still ugly and offensive; especially to those who make up the population of ‘have-nots’.
 
What does this communicate?
 
1 man, who kicks a ball around a large rectangular sports field, is paid tens (sometimes hundreds) of thousands of dollars for 90 minutes of pleasure; whilst an entire community, that toils for much of their lifetime in pain and on the brink of starvation, have next to no income at all? How can that be right? No, we should not discredit the 1 man his many hours of training and effort it took him to become an elite soccer player; he is merely a product of the system. But, quite frankly, the Somali mother who just watched her baby die an agonising death from malnutrition is not in the least bit impressed.
 
What does this communicate?
 
Then, of course, there is the continual ecological degradation of our planet, in its many forms – pollution, deforestation, etcetera, etcetera – all of which are driven by an insatiable and toxic cocktail of greed, selfishness, ignorance, petty-politics and ego.
 
What does this communicate?
 
Incidentally, the term “our planet” adds the bitters of ‘arrogance’ to the cocktail. It’s this ludicrous and (dare I mention again) arrogant belief system, that we have some rightful ownership of Earth, which has caused us to lose sight of what our real responsibility is: We are privileged, custodial servants; not owners!
 
As you can see, the communication of what we do is a loud, LOUD voice!
 
Every newspaper is a daily chronicle of our self-imposed chaos, and a deafening siren alerting us to our urgent need for change. Not just a change in behaviour. We need a change of heart and a change of purpose. We need philosophical, fundamental and corporate change in our most basic set of core values. Indeed, we need to change the entire course of humanity. If not… God help us!
 
So what has this article got to do with FACE and communication styles? Perhaps I can explain it this way…
 
We have a saying here at FACE Central that the key to successful relationships is effective communication, and the key to effective communication is understanding. FACE provides a framework of understanding that helps us to communicate more effectively, thus fostering more successful relationships.
 
Ok, so now let’s focus on just one element of that saying: SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS. In relation to the disparities between the ‘fat’ and the ‘skinny’, do they convey any sense of successful relationships? What about our relationship with “our planet”? Clearly, on both counts, we are failing to communicate understanding; or, even worse, we are communicating that we simply don’t care. Again… God help us!
 
Apart from me spilling my conscience in this article, everyone on the FACE Team has decided to add their thoughts to the discussion; articulated, of course, in their own unique, trademark styles.
 
By the way, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject.
 
 
 
Feel the FACEs
It’s enough to bring tears to the angels’ eyes.
 
It will probably come as no surprize to you that, as I’m writing this, I have half a box of facial tissues close to my side and the other half is steadily filling my wastepaper basket. My blubbering started with Mike’s article. Then, tea and scones with the girls just sent us all into burst water mains. So many tragedies are staring us right in the face (pardon the pun) and yet we seem to be immune to them; myself included. I feel so ashamed!
 
Thank you, Mike, for speaking so passionately and directly. It’s enough to bring tears to the angels’ eyes; so what chance do I have?! Oh no… here I go again. I’m going to need more tissues.
 
Bye-bye.
 
 
Facts Matter
Have we reached the point of no return?
 
As with most ANALYSTs, I’m most comfortable when immersed in details. The more, the better. I can swim in a sea of data and remain perfectly afloat at all times, even if I can’t touch the bottom. However, Mike has merely splashed in the shallows of a veritable ocean of information which in a state of wild tempest. Suffice to say, we’re all drowning in an abundance of over-whelming evidence and if we don’t make some concrete decisions on a global scale, we may well find (all too late) that we have reached a point of no return.
 
Thank you, Mike.
 
Until next month…
 
 
The Bottom Line
How ‘bout less talk and more action?!
 
It’s that simple. Enough talk. Now let’s get on with it and do something!
 
Goodbye.
 
 
Speak Up!
Think of it as a worldwide party!
 
Wow! I feel like I should be wearing a crusaders garb… complete with stilettoes, of course. WOOHOO!
 
Mike, you sure are raking in the accolades today, huh? Rightly so! Job well done. You deserve it. But don’t go getting too comfortable with that limelight, sunshine. I’ll be needing it back later today.
 
In all seriousness, there really does need to be some changes take place if we plan to be here on good ol’ Mother Earth for a while longer. We all have a responsibility to contribute to making it happen.
 
Imagine if we decided to have a worldwide party. 7 billion invites go out and we’re all in one place together – a really, really BIG place! What would you want that event to be like for you? Fun? Welcoming? Well-organised? Safe? Of course, on all counts! Well, guess what… that party has already started. And that ‘really BIG place’… yep, you guessed right, we’re already there.
 
Hey, just imagine we did have a worldwide party. Wouldn’t that be awesome?!. What do YOU think?
 
See ya. WOOHOO!!!
 
 
FACE of the Month (FREE download)
“We have a distinct air of self-assurance.”
 
Which FACE am I?