Apr 30, 2014 10:44:56 AM
I wrote this blog on April 21, while traveling to Billings, Montana. I hope you enjoy it.I’m on my way to Billings Montana where I will lead week two of Leadership Mastery. This is a three month leadership program that Xponents developed and we have been delivering it to the Bureau of Reclamation for the last several years.
My group, eighteen phenomenal individuals, will put their attention on the BIG picture, external awareness, political savvy, and creativity and innovation. These are just a few of the leadership competences identified by OPM and adopted by many government agencies.
In week one the focus was on self-awareness, and there was an Emotional Intelligence 360 and MBTI, and lots of exercises on expanding self-knowledge of how we impact our experience and the experience of others.
Every time I stand on the precipice of doing work with a group I find myself wondering: What am I here to give and what am I here to receive? Of late, there has been a lot of personal focus on my own life transitions. It struck me recently that I needed to step up the self-care as I had depleted my reserves with too much work, worry and whining.
I hate to admit it, but it’s so true. Between my house woes and a minor health scare, I fell off my game. I started to feel negative and not enough positive thoughts flowing through my mind. I am frustrated that my own leadership journey sometimes feels like three steps forward and two steps back.
For me, these little wake up calls are like…WTF, Deb! I initially don’t have much compassion for my human tendency to mess-up. But gradually, as I work to find alignment I can hold myself more lightly. I remember that this is a process and I aspire to more days living my intention than not. Everyday offers me a new beginning. Every moment is a choice.
I am proud to report that I went to yoga three times this week, inspired by my dear friend LL. And I had a tremendous massage inspired by my Moxie gals. All of the above moving me toward feeling more centered. Yesterday morning as I was finishing a sweet practice at Vital Yoga on Tennyson in Highlands District, our leader asked why is it so hard to say, “I don’t know?” And I thought about how not knowing where my home will be, or if the book will be liked, or what it will be like when our son leaves for college are ways I am losing control of my world. Why is it so hard to live with the unknown?
As I head into my work this week, with my incredible eighteen I’m going to sit with that question. What is it like to step into the bigger picture from a place of not knowing? If I trust that I know myself and what I have to offer, then the rest is just circumstances.
What is it like to look at the world with fresh eyes? I’ll let you know what I discover!
If you are longing to have a different kind of conversation in the workplace, call me at 303-238-9733. Let’s talk about it.
Deb Siverson is a seasoned executive coach, certified as a PCC through the International Coach Federation. She is also the author of “The Cycle of Transformation: Igniting Organizational Change Through the Leader Coach”. Order your copy on amazon.com NOW!
