FAIT - the Futures Awareness Inquiry Tool

Purpose or Policy?

Dr Lugo and Chief Vásquez discuss the relationship between purpose and policy in organizational leadership. They explored how organizations need both clear policies to guide operations and a strong sense of purpose to drive meaningful outcomes. Chief shares examples from his military experience where following purpose sometimes required bending or breaking policies, while Dr Lugo emphasizes that effective organizations balance clear guidelines with the flexibility to make exceptions when necessary.

Why Train them?

Chief and Dr Lugo discuss the value of training and educating followers in the workplace. They explore how training focuses on practical skills while education focuses on developing understanding, including covering workloads when employees are sent for training, the importance of creating a culture that values sharing knowledge after training, and the benefits of informal knowledge-sharing discussions. They also discuss how leaders should manage expectations around training investments and ensure that learning is shared throughout the organization to maximize returns. The discussion included personal anecdotes about leadership experiences and the long-term impact of mentoring and training others.

People vs Mission

Chief and Dr Lugo focus on the topic of "people versus mission" in organizational leadership. They discuss how both people and mission are equally important and interconnected, using analogies like balance beams and visual representations to illustrate their point. Dr Lugo emphasizes that organizations function as systems where internal factors (people) and external factors (environment, technology, politics) must be considered together rather than as separate entities. They agree that effective leaders must constantly balance focusing on people as individuals while maintaining mission focus, and that successful teams are united by purpose and clear goals.

Leading the REAL Family!

Chief and Dr Lugo focus on National Family Month, discussing the balance between family and work responsibilities. Chief shares personal experiences about prioritizing family, including missing his daughter's graduation to attend military training. They discuss how effective leaders should support employees' family needs and maintain "emotional bank accounts" for times when withdrawals are necessary. The conversation also covers strategies for strengthening family bonds. They touch on the importance of making family a priority while maintaining professional responsibilities in the workplace.

Are We REALLY Family?!

Dr Lugo and Chief discuss the concept of "being family" in the workplace, examining how this phrase can create confusion due to different interpretations of what family means in personal versus professional contexts. They explore how workplace culture differs from family dynamics, particularly regarding expectations around sacrifice, performance, and personal boundaries. Dr Lugo emphasizes the importance of balancing professional demands with personal well-being, noting that different professions have varying expectations around sacrifice.