Diabetic Neuropathy

How many men go for years without visiting their doctor? Not enough probably, but that’s another matter. In truth most guys find long periods in their lives when, in robust health, they forge their careers, socialize and build families. “Doctors see sick people”, I thought. “Why would I want to see a doctor?” Until the introduction of the mandatory vehicle test most folk neglected their cars in the same way. Today however, it’s commonplace to take better care of our cars than our health. So consider the development and progression of diabetes. Many people are shocked to learn they are diabetic when their blood sample shows elevated blood sugar and low glucose tolerance. They think it an overnight change. “Six months ago I was alright, why now?” They do not realise they’ve been digging their grave with their teeth for over 20 years and have not taken steps to adopt the healthy lifestyle the media’s always banging on about. It’s always been tomorrow’s problem until one day – Today, they’re right. If unchecked the illness accelerates our physical decline as more and more organs are affected. Numbness in the feet makes it difficult to walk and poor circulation makes it hard to fight infection. If and when an infection does take hold it can so threaten the whole body that the limb must be amputated. Something similar often happens in organisations. A particular kind of action is preferred, such as a severely legalistic bureaucracy, and over years it becomes deeply embedded in the culture. Oblivious to the drain these activities have on resources they progressively slow multiple departments so that they no longer pay adequate attention to their primary purpose. Their inflated cost structures restrict the flow of money to front line activities, service levels decline, operations become uncompetitive and eventually the organisation is forced to make a ‘strategic withdrawal’ from the sector. Factories close, jobs are lost and social fabric is weakened, but their paperwork was good to the end. As a health coach I have met many people who would rather leave the planet than change behaviour. I respect their right to be wrong and wish them well. My door is never closed should they want my help. At an organisational level the task is even more complex since the culture is always greater than the collective opinions and behaviours of its people. An outsider is often treated with suspicion, even hostility when new ideas are aired. Some ideas may be heard and implemented but in the main they are ignored. Later the idea appears self evident and is adopted. As a coach I also know that confrontation is futile. The adage “You insist, I resist” is always at play. By far the easier way to help an individual or organisation change is to heighten their awareness of what’s going on and then to support their chosen actions for change. The key element is a guiding principle that unites every member of the organisation. Arriving at a common aspiration in response to the questions “Why are we here?”, and “What do we want to achieve?” is a vital first step. When its staff are united in intention, and especially when they are committed to the health of the whole organisation, cooperation breaks out, great energies are released and an organisation quickly makes its dreams manifest. So the million dollar question is - To what degree is the staff of your organisation truly inspired and united by a compelling vision?

Better Together

The Scottish Independence debate brings identity clearly into focus. Do we see ourselves as independent or are we joined? Are Scottish economic interests better served as an independent nation or as part of a larger economic unit, the UK? To me the debate crystalises the need for us to think in a multidimensional way. There is no adequate Yes / No answer with winners and losers after the referendum. It’s now time to realise that we are both independent and interdependent. We can justly take pride in our individualism and strength in so far as it enables us to collaborate and serve in a larger community. In the human body of 100 Trillion cells each has a unique contribution to make. A liver cell cannot be a brain cell, nor a pancreatic cell be found in bone marrow. Every organ needs every other and optimum collaboration results in a healthy, balanced organism that can best serve its family and community. I can think of myself as a cell within the community of Newcastle where I live. This is not an either or choice, but both simultaneously. For years I used to think that ‘seeing the big picture’ was about adopting a superior perspective. I used to think things like – ‘First I’m a businessman, then an engineer’ or ‘First I’m a European, then an Irishman’. Today however, my thinking has evolved. One identity is not more important than another; rather, I am both things simultaneously – and very much more besides. My hope for the outcome of the Scottish referendum, is that the people vote to stay part of the UK and that all the people of that great nation have a renewed sense of pride in their cultural identity. May they be truly Scottish with further devolution of power, as they are best positioned to address the needs of their people. But may they take pride in their multifaceted identity as citizens of the UK, of Europe and humanity as a whole. All bodies work better when their separate parts are optimally healthy and work together to serve the whole. Our communities will be stronger when we are individually healthy yet use our strength to support the less fortunate, the sick and the elderly. Our world will be a healthier place when its nations seek to live in a balanced and harmonious way and to serve the whole through a joyous celebration of diversity. Nor may we continue to exploit nature’s resources in unsustainable ways. Mankind works better together and in the long-term can only work at all by working in harmony with nature.