Have you ever seen a sports coach argue with a referee? Like, really go after it?
The coach might be really really angry, or she might be…doing it for the team.
I was thinking abut this today when a client and I were talking about whether a default intention is ever productive. My inclination is to say no; a default intention is by definition one that isn’t serving anyone but its owner. But it’s interesting to think about when something that may seem like a default intention is actually in service of another, more productive intention.
In this example, the coach might be arguing with the ref in order to show the team that she has their backs, to reinforce their sense of unity, even to motivate them because she put herself on the line. It’s not really about the call or the ref, it’s about the team.
Similarly, a leader might argue with a colleague or a boss in order to be a robust advocate for her team’s work, ideas, or wellbeing.
Every deliberate intention is in service of something…it just may not be obvious what that something is to the outside eye!
