AI is a machine. You are human. The difference is real.

Life can feel unjust, but seeking some universal reckoning will leave us looking for a long time. 

The truth is that bad things can happen to people who live with integrity. 

Our workplaces may see us as less valuable than we see ourselves

Projects may not pan out, despite all the effort we have put in.

There are reasons things work out sub-optimally—reasons that may not seem rational. Too many variables come into play for us to expect a fully rational response. After all, we are not machines. 

Harsh? Straightforward, I hope. Humanity is messy at the best of times. And good communications practices help us to see the messiness and work through it. 

However life zigzags our paths, we have the capacity to stay the course. All those hard-earned experiences help us learn how to deal with future unexpected events when they roll around. And with each of those, we will do our best, just like the graph to the right shows. Our ability to learn continues, but our capacity to deal with each zigzag will differ. Like I said, it is messy. Friends, that is ok. 

Besides learning, there is grace. Knowing that capacity is itself a variable becomes is fundamental to communicating well. A colleague’s ability to understand a project or to complete a task depends almost completely on all the zigzags they are navigating. Yes, projects need to be completed and people need to show up to work. We can create cultures of respect by holding to good communication practices and a commitment to each other. Or, for the tl;dr version, communicate with a goal to build trust. 

What I put before you here is hard. Some folks will play us (see above about injustice), but most will do right by you when you offer understanding. Even more importantly, offer yourself understanding and grace. You are going to perform differently every day. Balance is about getting that throughline amid the peaks and troughs of our lives. Know that some days will be better, and some will not. 

For more on how to communicate with real humans, contact Unspun Communications at olga@unspun.ca. 

 

 

See below for some resources to help you remember how to work like a human:

 

  •  Triggered? Exploring trauma and capacity
  •  10 Ways to Build Resilience
  •  Building self-compassion