Wise Wednesdays

How can I influence better at work?   It’s a question that often comes up in coaching.   After all, how can you bring your vision alive if you can’t get others on board? As they say, if your vision can be achieved by you alone, then the vision isn’t big enough.   Or one of my favourite : if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. But what is influence? And, if it entails engagement, collaboration and making alliances, how do you stay true to your vision and values while accommodating the needs, vision and values of others? Do you have to compromise? Must you bend your principles? Is there some game you must learn to play? In the Presence Power Possibility coaching group (PPP), we’ve been exploring the theme of Radical Authenticity . Authenticity because it’s a human to want to be self-actualised (which feels pleasant); and radical because this self-actualisation requires a dropping the masks made of internalised expectations and conditioned ...

Slow down. It's the essence of Zen, apparently. And a foundational principle in coaching conversations.   In fact, what usually happens when someone starts coaching with me is that they slow down.   Mind Body Energy If the pareto principle is correct, 80% of what we’re doing is unnecessary or needs to be deprioritised…The 20% that really makes a difference is buried in there. Interestingly, it’s also been estimated that 95% of thoughts are repetitive, and that 80% of those are negative!   When you slow down, the gold can filter through. Slowing down distils the 5% of thoughts that are true sparks of inspiration and the 20% of actions that create the future you truly want. But it’s scary. A part of you may wonder what will happen if you slow down? What will you do with your time instead? Will you miss out or fall behind? Will your negative thoughts overwhelm you if you’re not busy? What will it mean about you? And who are you to do this anyway? These are the...