The Leader Awakened

Oct 29, 2009 10:11:30 PM

A leader will find it difficult to articulate a coherent vision unless it expresses his core values, his basic identity…one must first embark on the formidable journey of self-discovery in order to create a vision with authentic soul.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

How does one go about  embarking on the formidable journey of self discovery?  For many it comes first with the recognition that they are lost and unsure of how they fit or contribute to the bigger picture.  They may feel that their life has lost meaning or that they have a sense of alienation from what is real or important. 

I coach my clients not to feel despair by this sense of emptyness or disatisfaction but rather to feel elated that they have been given the signal or calling that it is time for them to step in to something more.  What often causes one to take another step on the journey of cultivating his or her leadership are the waves of discontent. 

It starts with noticing that we want something more, which when heeded becomes the beacon to explore new and interesting territory.  In excavating our inner nature and identifying what is missing from the equation that is our highest and greatest good, we can begin the search in ernest for what will take us to that next pinnacle in the story of our own success.

So while the journey may be formidable it is calling to those who feel the stirring of wanting to be and do more.  Cultivating your leadership takes effort and focus.  If you want to grow you need all the elements to feed that seed that wants to take root.  Some of the assignments I give my clients when they are feeling the waves of discontent or restlessness are as follows:

• Spend fifteen minutes listing all the things about your work life that cause you frustration, angst, or boredom.  Identify common themes that are emerging.  What is causing this sense of dissatisfaction? What do you have control over?  What can you influence to resolve the problem?
• Spend fifteen minutes writing the perfect job description for you.  What would you be doing every day for work if money were not an issue?  What elements of this work can be transported in to the work you do today?
• What is your long term or five year plan?  What do you ultimately want to do for work? What will it take to get there?