No Words
What's happening isn't new, but it is traumatizing
I’m a little late publishing this post today.
I intended to write yesterday as I do every Saturday morning—with my wife in our favorite coffee shop here in Seattle—and publish today, like usual.
I even started a post on performance evals. But then news and videos started circulating about the shooting and killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
And in an instance, everything changed.
Everyday leadership topics felt meaningless. I couldn’t finish what I wrote, nor frankly could I write or focus on anything else.
A day later, I still can’t. I have no words. I am numb.
It shouldn’t be surprising that this is who we are as a nation. Remember George Floyd and the dozens of other black men and women who came before and after him?
And now, another person—Alex Pretti—has lost their life to government-sanctioned violence. People have lost a child, a brother, a co-worker, a friend.
This is not new—but it is always traumatizing.
Remember this when you head into work tomorrow. Your team members are dealing with trauma—again. You likely are, too.
So be sure to tread lightly tomorrow. Check in with your team. Give them space to share how they’re feeling. Cancel a meeting or two. Take a sick day (or a snow day!).
We’re dealing with a lot right now—and have been for awhile. It’s okay to feel numb. To not have words. To cry.
It’s okay to not be okay with it all.
RIP Alex Pretti. You were taken from this world far too soon.
PS: Please reach out if you need someone to talk to. I’m here for you. 💜