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Why?

(Try to find out what feelings and needs are alive in the other person: empathic resonance)

Do you feel tired/dispirited?
Do you want to see more action and initiative?
I guess what you’re saying is that you are tired/dispirited because you think some people aren’t as active as you would like them to be and you wish more action and initiative from all of us living together?


What if?

(‘Mirror questions’: how would it be if you were standing in the shoes of that person)

Do you know people in your neighbourhood who aren’t as active as you are? Who has different opinions on efficiency, organization, and deadlines? How do you think they would feel when they were called lazy because of their opinions?


Self-reflection

(Questions you can ask yourself in silence to support yourself in understanding the other person)

How important is action and initiative for me?
When do I have the need for it?
How do I feel when this need is not fulfilled?


Empowerment

(More information on the issue and tips how to explore the problem and continue the discussion)

Work productivity, discipline and agreement reliability are partially culturally decided qualities. That is in part because of how certain cultures handle time.
There are cultures (like the German or Dutch) where people go by linear time: time is money and deadlines are holy. Agendas and schedules decide the order of activities. Everything goes step by step, preferably without interruption. People live according to an external clock and do not make others wait.
There are also cultures where people go by circular time, where deadlines and schedules are seen as guidelines. At the same moment, several activities are happening. Interruptions are a part of life. People live following an internal clock and sometimes they have to wait.
Besides, there are also European countries where the heat during the day requires a midday break. Would you call these people lazy because they have to adapt to weather conditions?

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Project Number: 2018-1-DE02-KA204-005060