I would add a generous amount of Play-Doh brand modeling compound per participant to help invoke tactile as well as verbal and visual thinking.

Guidelines:
1) Use it all up. Let it dry.
2) When tempted to check the net, pick up the Play-Doh instead.

Drafting dots, hadn’t heard of those, will check them out.

I also like to bring squishy balls, fun little creatures for stretching and throwing at people.

Believe it or not, that is exactly how it looks at all (well OK, most) times. I am normally a disorganized person (I like my chaos), but I need my toolkit to be ready for me at a moment’s notice. Sometimes I’ll need to throw in an unplanned activity at the last minute and so having quick access to all that I need, and knowing that it will be there for me, is essential.

I would love to hear more about a “collaboration room in a box.”

Magic suitcase — jealous.

I have one colleague that has a helium tank. And another that has a collaboration room in a box. It works well if you don’t confuse it with the magic suitcase – they all look alike.

I don’t work with you, and don’t know you that well, but in our brief interactions, you’ve always been pleasant to me, and I like you and what you’re doing at Gangplank. Since I don’t know you that well, however, take what I say here with a grain of salt.

So, your response to the letter was to attack the person who wrote it. Thus, is it any wonder why they sent it anonymously?

It seems to me that’s the whole point here isn’t it? That rather than viewing this as an opportunity for introspection and consideration of what this person has perceived as negativity on your part, you’re instead… well.. spreading more negativity?

Granted, no one wants to receive a letter like this… and yes, without the opportunity to talk to the person, it does make it more difficult to glean exactly what issues need to be resolved. But in the end, it’s better to simply see it for what it is, which is someone who likes you, who felt the need to just inform you that maybe you need to think a bit about the energy you’re projecting and see if you can improve that.

You can absolutely view that person as not having balls. And hey, you can call it as you see it there… whatever… but I think that’s a red herring, and won’t help the situation whatsoever. If you can get something from the letter… even just a red flag that maybe you need to do some thinking… it seems like that’s the only intent.

Lots to ponder…

Firstly, while it may not be “courageous” for someone to submit and anonymous letter, there could be many reasons for it. Perhaps they feel you cannot be trusted? Perhaps they feel you would not be rational in your response? Perhaps they feel it would damage them personally? Perhaps they feel you would be spiteful? Again, not mature, but reasons do exist.

I’ve found in my many years leading people that it is I who has to set the tone and how people will ultimately interact with me is a direct reflection of how I _have_ interacted with them or they have _seen_ me interact with others. I suggest you take the time to do some self evaluation; perhaps you have work to do.

And, on Derek’s comment about ignoring the advise or fixing the problem. This is commonly called a false dilemma ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_dilemma). It is often used to show juxtaposed sides and make it seem you have only a black and white response when in fact there are many, many shade of gray.

I applaud you for reading the book and trying to better yourself, keep it up.