"Oel ngati Kameie," means "I see you" in the Navi language, from the movie Avatar.
"I see you!"
What a wonderful greeting. 'I see you."
"I see you!" Acknowledging someone. Letting them know you see them, that you are giving them attention.
Imagine the difference. Instead of seeing through, instead of seeing situations to manage, instead of seeing an interruption to our intent, we 'see' someone who is also seeking, looking to find their way, their way home.
What if we could 'see' the mother, a warrior, instead of the mother of 2 who seems to always arrive late.
What if we could 'see' the watchman on guard for the predators in the dankness looking to tempt those teenagers in his care.
What if we could 'see' the compassionate heart unable to say no to another in need instead of the perception of weak will.
What if our message to the world, the citizen, was 'I see you.'
Being seen begins to lift the curtain of isolation.
Being seen lessens the weight of loneliness.
Being seen encourages, inspires.
Being seen allows the eyes to see greater possibility.
Being seen IS the acknowledgment empowering the next big step.
"Oel ngati kameie," as you embrace a more gritty engagement with those around you, as you come to realize the power that inhabits words of recognition.
This power is inexhaustible so use it so you can be found GUILTY of empowering the burdened, of giving hope the the downtrodden, breaking the shackles of confinement on their mind.
That sure seems the opposite of what observed in society and social media as I see it today.
There seems to be a lot of success theater, "Look at me!!!" or "Do you see me now?" vanity metrics.
I can not imagine success theater or vanity metrics working. As a leader, a team player or the cautious even timid observer, success theater and vanity metrics is not going to draw them into the fold or as some have questioned, how to motivate these and those with whom we work and even those we encounter.
Maybe NOW is the time to rethink .
Time to Stop Doing What You've Been Told By the Suits.
I'm willing to bet, a lot of the tactics and ideas they are telling you to do, would fall under the "Look at me!!!" category....the "Do you see me now?" category.
Why not try the "I see you" approach?
To do this... you have to practice empathy.
Empathy is the psychological identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another. It is NOT entering into their feelings such as in sympathy.
You have to enter the conversation in their head... you have to use the words and phrases they are thinking.
When you get this right... results follow.
As an example:
What is the conversation your audience is having with themselves?
A visitor to your open house shares they looked at house 3 years ago and always got beat out by a cash buyer. They may be intimidated by the perception of extreme competition and still suffer from the heartbreak of expectations crushed..
The following conversation with the open house visitor identifies you 'SEE THEM," "ACKNOWLEDGE THEM," "UNDERSTAND THEM" and will enter their conversation. IT IS THE RESONANCE THAT THEY HEAR, the empathy.
"When Bob was looking for a home in Bramblewood, in 2013, there were only 2 listed and 4 had sold the entire year. He was so frustrated he was in near tears when he told me he wanted to quit. Bob never gave up. He found his way through the storm. With a good guide much of the mayhem of buying can be avoided assuring you a less stressful, much more enjoyable home buying experience. It is safe to dream again, because with a little patience, a good guide, great things can happen."
HOMEWORK
Imagine across the dining room table is the flagship residents of Maricopa Highlands. Tom and Mary bought the first house constructed 50 years ago and have been pillars in the community from day one. Now, it is just too much to keep up, expenses rising, income flat, health not what it once was. This retired couple needs to downsize, to go into one of those places, and pull the cash out of the house.
What is the conversation they are having in their heads? What are they feeling? Can you create RESONANCE? Do you 'see' them?
Write your "Oel ngati Kameie," to Tom and Mary in a comment.
Please leave a comment or I will be 'tisraw si."
Comments(2)