Clarity is critical when chaos reigns. So, set standards, clear expectations for yourself, monitor them and reevaluate over time, with evidence.
There’s nothing magic about regulations, too much is bad, too little is bad. – Hillary Clinton
The 2020 theme of identity continues. Recognizing how regulation fits into navigating our personal identity signals a maturity and strength of character. It essentially determines how we reflect our identity into the world. This becomes even more important when chaos surrounds.
In the Kickass Koach podcast episode dropped Monday, March 30th, I revisit lessons learned in my work as a Performance Consultant in a large Fortune 100 company. My team was charged with anticipating potential problems from the data and building systems or programs to advise the Operation.
For the newsletter, I relate the theme directly to a grocery store experience in the #COVID19 era. I suspect there will be a time when we’ll discuss life as before and after the pandemic.
In the weekly Instagram and LinkedIn video, I reflect on how one of the best lessons we must apply to survive a pandemic is a skill we started learning in Kindergarten.
Finally, in this post I reflect on how regulation of every kind adds clarity and may add a sliver of our need for greater certainty.
Regulatory Clarity is comforting
Nobody wants their freedoms curtailed. Those who live in a free society or immigrated to one, may take that freedom for granted. During this pandemic it is fascinating to hear people challenge the government about why they haven’t been stricter with the citizenry.
This week the RCMP have been engaged in checking up on those required to quarantine. Additionally, municipalities are fining those who are not properly distancing in public. As the regulatory regime ramps up there appears to be one of two responses. Strangely, the most common is to ask why they didn’t do it sooner. To a lesser degree, some express fear about whether the government is over-reaching.
Today, a reporter challenged a Federal cabinet member about how the CRA would crack down on people who abused the CERB. CERB is the emergency fund the government set up to assist people who lost their income during COVID19. The Minister initially misunderstood the question, possibly intentionally, and answered it with an emphasis on the government’s priority for helping Canadians. The journalist persisted, apparently concerned about citizens who would receive money for which they are not entitled.
Regulations make us feel more comfortable. Perhaps it’s because we crave fairness as much as certainty. Moreover, it may be the comfort of feeling parented when fear is heightened.
Regulatory Skills are Built on Choice
In a democracy, the regulatory policies are built most effectively on choice. This is often described as social license. Of course, we choose with our vote. Canadians essentially chose to legalized cannabis when we elected a liberal government in 2015. However, some of us voted for that Liberal government with the belief that it was the last election under “first-passed-the-post”. My choice didn’t get integrated into legislation. In other words, it isn’t a straight line from making a choice and getting the desired outcome.
Where choice is most apparent is in self-regulation. This is an individual application of regulation. That doesn’t make it easy, none-the-less.
During this pandemic it’s obvious how poorly most of us learned this skill. As I mention in the newsletter, this is a skill embedded in the school curriculum from the beginning. It is in the Kindergarten framework. That is why we had to hold hands and learn to take naps. It was teaching us to self-regulate. Most baby books talk about teaching this skill as early as infancy. It is a life long skill that doesn’t come easily to our species.
Why doesn’t it come easily? First, because we crave the wings of flight or we want what we want, when we want it. Second, we tend to be driven by habit and the more short sighted the habit, the more easily it sticks. Essentially, self-regulation requires effort. Thirdly, it is a lead indicator. I discuss lead and lag indicators in my theme in the week of April 13th.
Adherence is more likely when we create or generate our own set of regulations and internalize them.
Regulation Generates Freedom
Life is one big Experiment
The underlying point, again this week, emphasizes the benefit of approaching life as an experiment. Moreover, when we learn the value of regulation we establish meaningful guidelines for our self.. Furthermore, we may then more closely monitor how our choices, decisions and ability to adjust our actions to our 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 are able to influence results more deeply. This mindset that relies on clarity, curiosity and a resilient spirit we accept no excuses, only results. Furthermore, it’s essential we have a system 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. 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.
Self-regulations is the cornerstone of Bank Your Impact (BYI)
Self-regulation is a common theme for my posts. It comes in various forms but it is essential to performing at our best. The BYI system helps participants identify options, make wise choices and commit to influencing desired outcomes. It takes a systematic and experiential approach to influence the outcomes we produce. Moreover, becoming aware of who we are being and how it produces the results in our life is a consequence of the choices we made and how we execute on those choices. Ultimately, creating the life we want starts with the actions we choose to take.
Furthermore, to get what we truly want in life, we need to be willing to persist, seek help, and continually look for transferable learning opportunities. Additionally, we need to be willing to question our choices and expand our options through healthy curiosity and a search for unique perspectives. Moreover, identifying and nurturing our identity is the place to start.
A healthy meaningful and full life is made possible with clarity about our values, beliefs, patterns and habits. Additionally, our quality of life is influenced and shaped by our unique blend of strengths and inclinations. Undoubtedly, a growth mindset and open-minded approach are foundations to sustaining this healthy sense of self.
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.
You can read more about my work and my in the About Me section of the website and below is a recording of my #bigwhystory:
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.