A chance for a change. Isn’t that what this pandemic is offering? Moreover, it is the only gift it has to give. A chance for a change!
“You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.” – Zig Zigler
The 2020 theme of identity continues with this my final blog of 2020. Clearly, in a year of such sorrow and loss, change or the opportunity for change may appear strange. However, in every tragedy we only move forward with a vision of possibilities.
In the Kickass Koach podcast episode dropped December 14th, I use risk taking specifically in driving choices as a frame to explore how our choices in the chances we take.
For the newsletter, I dig more deeply into Roger Martin’s advice that we discern between real choices and apparent choices quickly so we recognize the real points of differentiation that are necessary in making REAL choices that matter.
Finally, in this post I seek to discover when change is looking for a chance and the power to be ready to take advantage of a chance when it appears. I also posit that a chance is all we need when we have done the work to be ready.
Change looks for a Chance
Change is the most constant force we know. It is always looking for a chance to challenge and shake us up. We would do well to anticipate and act early to maximize the benefits in every way.
In business this has become the method for remaining relevant. Old brands that seemed impenetrable in the past died in the last few decades and even iconic brands, like RIM, lost its footing because it failed to get ahead of the demands of change. I laugh as I write this because the spin off of RIM, Blackberry, has seen a resurgence of its stock value today and steadily over the past three months. Perhaps it isn’t dead yet! This offers hope to each of us. Failing to answer the call to change may continue to offer opportunities to make good choices with a chance to realize the change on our own terms.
Roger Martin is a strategic thinker, considered a genius in business strategies of the 21st century. There is great value in his process and principle of change. It is not for the faint of heart but when teams embrace this third option approach their collective wisdom can lead to greatness on another plane.
“The ability to face constructively the tension of opposing ideas and instead of choosing one at the expense of the other, generate a creative resolution of the tension in the form of a new idea that contains elements of the opposing ideas but is superior to each.” – Roger Martin
A Chance requires we Be Ready
As I wrote earlier, change is constant. All change is looking for is a chance to disrupt or an opportunity to improve. We would all do well to focus on the preparation. I love the Question Burst process – read the HBR article from a few years ago and learn the technique. It is a way of staying ahead of the demand for change by seeing it as the need for it is expanding. QBs are a great way to see both a need and an avenue for change.
Being ready is a process in and of it self. While we may crave certainty, the only certainty we can rely upon is the need and reality of change.
Unfortunately we are primed to believe that chance is hard. A colleague once suggest to me that the key to navigating change is to remember that mastering change starts will embracing the mystery. In other words, the unknown. Change is all about wadding into the possibilities and away from what is already known. Change, I argue, is only hard for those who are unready.
Be ready. Build the awareness of what is, where we are going and where we ultimately want to be so being ready gains traction and energy. With this expanded awareness willingness grows.
A Chance May be all We Need
A chance to make a change may be all we need, with a little ingenuity, to deliver on our most pressing goals and desires.
Take this pandemic. As an example of necessity-being-the-mother-of-invention, it rocks!
Whether it was the Biden campaign in the States or the Trudeau comm-machine in March of 2020 who first put out the phrase, Build Back Better is a great slogan. I first heard Trudeau say it in March 2020 when he talked about all the programs they were quickly designing and how they would serve as an impetus for the change we would need to fully recover post-pandemic.
This pandemic has been horrific and tragic even. If there is any silver lining it is that it is a chance, a chance that is forcing our society, hopefully the world, to make the changes necessary to be more equitable and people-centric. Whether we achieve meaningful and lasting improvements if up to all of us.
Chances are…the best thing we have.
Life is one big Experiment
An experimental, iterative, approach to life is a recognition that truth is found in the act of seeking. Moreover, when we rigorously work to overcome challenges our life experience guides us. As John Dewey says, education is life itself. We learn from reflecting on our experiences. Ultimately, this is an experimental approach.
Taking advantage of the chance when they present them self, is difficult. It requires a prepared mind and a willing heart, spirit along with the drive to press forward against the odds.
Continuous learning and fresh insights are the goal of the experimental approach. What will the evidence teach us? Moreover, this approach is generative in addition to being iterative. With an experimental collaborative approach, we may find progress is faster and we go further. In collaboration we can crack this, but only together with a willingness to learn and honour the data and the stories will we arrive where we seek to go.
We may be capable of more closely monitoring and learning from our choices and decisions and build capacity to adjust our actions to meet the current situation. Then, we may influence how things unfold. There’s a difference between wanting something and making something happen. With the mindset necessary to perform under pressure, we’re able to influence results more deeply. Moreover, this mindset that relies on clarity, curiosity and a resilient spirit we accept no excuses, only meaningful results. Furthermore, it’s essential we learn to evaluate the risk of any action, removing the very human emotions that cloud our judgment.
Walk with me.
Together let’s examine options consciously and authentically to make choices that move us strategically toward where we want to be. Therefore, where my client wants to go, is my paramount focus. Strategy is a about choices. Execution on these choices requires masterful performance. Furthermore, a well-developed process allows us to enjoy the journey far more fully
Be part of the journey in 2020.
Start by subscribing to my mailing list . Subscribers receive:
- My interactive exercise to begin reducing the impacts of stress and feelings of overwhelm will be sent.
- My newsletter with the related podcast episode will be sent weekly.
- Special offers will be available to subscribers monthly including: a random offer of a complimentary one hour coaching conversation, access to roundtable engagements and group coaching on identity and related subjects, as well as information on an initiative on which I’m collaborating: #FeMasCon.
Change not left to Chance when Banking (Y)Our Impact (BYI)
The System
The Bank Your Impact (BYI) System is about both developing and embedding self-awareness. Furthermore, the benefits of expanded resilience, connections built on understanding the impact of belonging and an ability to bolster a professional and authentic presence are foundational. Perhaps more than the other two, developing a foundational resilience is critical to with standing that which moves us into burnout.
The current system incorporates 1:1 coaching, roundtable conversations; eventually I’ll add a neuro-social learning experience (currently only available in organizational contracts but will be added to the system for individual engagement in 2021). My approach is based on the ICF (International Coaching Federation) standards. I’m meeting you (my clients) where you are, both as the coaching agreement begins, and in the moment that exists at the time of each conversation. Progress or growth is not a straight line. The ICA model is the framework for every conversation: Issue/Insight, Choice/Commitment, Action/Accountability. Over the past year I’ve been tightening the model to meet the needs of my clients.
Holding space to support my clients in:
- Developing meaningful insights
- Expanding/deepening perspective on those insights
- Building/designing a practice to try on new ways of being/seeing OR experiment for discovery
- Assessing progress, becoming agile in transfer of learning and application before developing additional insights
An organic experience
The experience is tailored around what you bring to each conversation, in my experience, there are common themes that arise including: self-awareness, mindfulness, mindset, communication, connections, and attitude. Self-awareness stands alone but is also a foundational theme. I have registered upwards of 40 sub-concepts that fit under each of these categories. Furthermore, I bring tools, skills and techniques to respond and guide our work together, informed by positive psychology, neuroscience, and management/leadership research.
Walk With Me, to Where You Want to Be
In all my blog posts in 2019, you will find this section outlines what brought me to this area of focus: supporting people in the early to middle part of their career as a #performance #coach.
Feel like you’re living someone else’s destiny?
If that’s working for you, great. If it isn’t or it starts to be a problem, reach out. I welcome a conversation.
Willing to do the work to find more meaning?
With the skills to unpack the emotions and barriers and triggers and mindset challenges with the skills in my BYI system, participants begin to see the impact in their career and finally begin to discover what matters most to them. The bonus: they begin to see a path to get there. Join me… My system is intended to be meaningful, relevant, accessible and affordable. With that in mind, there are many ways to engage with me. Below are TWO ways to start, without spending a dime.
Walk with Me!
- BOOK a complimentary exploratory 1:1 conversation 20-30 minutes.
- SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list. You’ll receive an interactive exercise that you may use to reduce and manage stress or feelings of overwhelm. PLUS each week you’ll receive my podcast and reflections in your inbox AND you’ll be invited to monthly webinars and roundtable conversations.
In closing, I love bringing learning experiences to workplaces that are interested in raising their performance and encouraging their people.
- Book me to speak at your conference or to a group in your organization. My workshops on building resilience, improving workplace outcomes through relationships, and increasing performance are big hits! In 2020 I’ve added a few workshops on gender engagement – how, by knocking off the boxes that limit us by gender we all find our capacity expands. Life BChance