A month ago, we asked you to submit honest, truthful, and open feedback about strengthening the Ottawa November Project Community. This week, we wanted to share some key findings. Further, we wanted to introduce our plans in response, but also update you on other key features of NP, including items we would like to revisit and how in-person workouts will look like when they return. This response includes your voice from the survey, powerful conversations we have shared with so many of you, with co-leaders from around the world and with NPHQ.
Hugs and High Fives
Several comments about hugging were shared, especially about how it makes people feel. Hugging has played a role in NP culture for a number of years. However, although some love hugs, not everyone does. We must be respectful of what can make people feel uncomfortable. Under COVID, close contact will need to re-evaluated for in-person workouts, and any physical contact may be out of the question. However, if hugging is a safe option, we want to reiterate this culture shift and emphasize the need for choice and respecting the choice of others.
Historically, we start the morning with a bounce, ending it with a hug of another NP member, sometimes someone new. The survey showed mixed feelings about this. When we’re back to in-person workouts, we end the bounce by introducing ourselves to someone close by but we invite you to wish that person a great day and give an optional hug or high five. We know it’s not always easy to read a person’s body language – are they going in for a high five? If in doubt, high five it out. If someone is going in for a hug and you are not comfortable, raise up your hand for a high five. If someone is going in for a hug and you want to hug, go for it. It’s about being respectful of everyone’s personal space. Please see this Culture Shift blog and video for more on this.
Cliques
It’s easy to forget how intimidating it can be to show up to something new for the first time, especially to a large group activity. Do you remember your first Wednesday? It can be daunting walking into an environment where friendships have been developed, not knowing anyone. When you walk up and see a group of friends in a circle talking to each other, someone else may see a closed space. How can we prevent this? It is on all of us to be open and welcoming to everyone showing up; to look for opportunities to include.
We love that so many people who show up to November Project have developed so many great friendships with other members. We believe many of these friendships have developed between people who otherwise may have never crossed paths in life. We want to encourage the deepening of relationships and also elevating the responsibility to involve others and bring them in as well, looking for ways to be permanently open.
We see effort that has been made to make people feel welcome, as one of the loudest responses in the survey is the feeling of being welcomed, having people remember their name and the positive atmosphere. That comes from so many of you being intentional about this. We recognize that the effort to connect needs to come from both sides, but we would encourage our members who have been coming for a longer period of time to continue taking it upon themselves to go out of their way to make some of the newer people feel welcome.
Diversity/Inclusivity
This is a huge area of need and will be a lifelong journey of learning. One paragraph, blog, or a couple of links will not do it justice. It will be tackled by us personally one week at a time, and will be guided by NPHQ’s Next Steps. In Ottawa, we have also had a few people from the community express interest in being part of conversations around diversity and inclusion, who will contribute to the effort going forward. There will more to come on this front as we continue to learn and make our community more inclusive. A separate blog post will be dedicated to this ongoing priority.
PR (Personal Record) Awards
We heard several different suggestions for ways in which we could recognize a variety of accomplishments on PR Day. The PR Award has recognized the fastest male and female on “Race day” at TD Place or the Rideau Canal Locks. One immediate change is that we will no longer give out these awards. Although we don’t want to eliminate the competitive vibe of workouts for those who want it, by recognizing a male and female, we are creating a non-inclusive environment for those who do not identify within this gender binary. Competition is something we believe can make everyone better. However, the most important competition for many is with themselves. In the last year, we introduced the PR “chain” which recognized everyone who got a PR. Members would get their picture taken holding the chain, a celebration of improvement. The PR chain will be the key feature going forward. We want to recognize everyone no matter how big the PR is (one full set of stairs, a half set of stairs, one extra half lap on the hill). PR day will remain a regular event because we value pushing limits, whatever those are for you.
Interactions
Your survey responses indicated varied feelings about partner workouts. Workouts that include “fly-bys” (i.e., crossing paths on the run) create fun opportunities to support and encourage. However, pairing up or smaller group workouts some consider fun, are not as widely embraced by others, in particular those who may not know as many people. This feature will still continue and here is why….
We believe smaller group work creates many positive interactions and takes the focus off ourselves to encourage someone else. Who knows? This may be the start of a positive relationship, or at the very least a chance to help someone finish what they thought they couldn’t. Of course, we want you to workout with your friends, but it’s also important to look for someone new to team-up with, or bring into your group of 3. This will always be your choice to participate, and respecting the choices of others.
Challenge by Choice
NP exists for you to workout, to better yourself, and to be part of a community. Our workout design is very intentional. We want you to challenge yourself within a particular time frame, or distance, or pace, or number of rounds, and most of the time, you really don’t have any idea where everyone else is in the workout. And the truth is, it doesn’t matter. You come as you are, and we hope you are pushing to get better. We will always give options to up the intensity or lower the intensity. Some weeks you may want a little more, others a little less. That is your choice. And if you need a modification, come ask us. In the end, we want you to feel in full control.
Other important topics…
Holiday workouts
In the past, we’ve created Monday holiday workouts. We take advantage of the stat holidays and do an extra workout for an awesome way to start your holiday Monday. We will continue to be mindful of what we are celebrating so that it doesn’t exclude those who don’t celebrate Judeochristian holidays by making that specific holiday a theme of the workout.
Socials
Gatherings outside of NP are awesome, relationships continue to flourish this way. You don’t need to wait for us to organize a social gathering if you want to see more of that. November Project Ottawa Social Page on Facebook is an ideal place to plan your own activities and events. We have run some socials here and there and will continue to do that. If you are keen for more, feel free to make that happen, there will probably be people who are keen to do that too.
Coffee
Right now coffee chats happen every Wendesdays at 7:30am on Zoom. The link is always posted on the November Project Ottawa Page on Facebook. Coffee is a chance for strengthening relationships, and we always want to invite others to experience that as well if they are able to. We typically share that at the end of the workout, but just in case, everyone is welcome to join that time to connect. When in person, there is always a group of people who gather for coffee at a coffee shop. Everyone is also welcome to this. We often announce it, but feel free to share that with someone who is new and may not know this but want a chance to connect further.
Bounce and Photo
These have been an in-person routine to book-end our workouts. The bounce is a unique way to gather, energize, and get the morning rolling. The photo reconnects us at the end of the workout, to give birthday booms, and to make some quick announcements to send us off on our days in a positive way. COVID has meant considering (temporary) alternatives to these great features. Rest assured, whatever we do, safety will lead the way.
Time
We have been very consistent with start time and end time. We are respectful of time and those who have commitments early in the day. Please be there at 6:29am, we start together as a community and end together at 7am (with an open invite to coffee). We end the morning with the photo, share a high five or hug, a good job and wishing someone a good day.
The Blog
Thank you for reading the blog. We will continue to post, like we have done for 3+ years after every single workout. It allows us to connect outside of workout time, set some expectations of the Ottawa NP experience, and share our members’ voices through guest posts.
Moving forward
We know there was a lot of stuff here this week, a lot of important things. We cannot communicate all of this at the beginning or end of the workouts. So, this blog has communicated our “norms” at the moment. However, we realize the community is dynamic and cultures can change. We (Liz and Lauren) commit to evolve in a positive, inclusive direction as much as possible. We also believe it is up to all of us to uphold the norms, create a welcoming environment, and spread positivity as best as we can.
There will always be things you can expect from NP Ottawa: we will continue to host workouts, Wednesday mornings, 6:29 am (currently on Zoom), and eventually back in person once it’s safe to do so. We will always aspire to create an inclusive environment, to which our workouts, actions, and language contribute.
If there are things you still would like to talk about, you can always chat with us. You don’t need to wait until the next survey to communicate your thoughts. As always, looking forward to seeing you at the next workout!
Here’s to bringing soles together,
Lauren and Liz
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