Recently I was honored from a client about an example of how they witnessed a teammate “Wake Up”, so he thought of me. It’s times like this that I realize I am the luckiest man on the planet and I am consciously “living” the life I want to live.
It is so validating for me. I am in my Purpose. Doing what I was intended to do. Living a fulfilled, purpose-guided, value-honored- life. Sometimes I lose sight of all that I am doing, and accomplishing. So to hear a client tell me “well done”, well, I get really motivated.
This has been happening on a pretty frequent level lately. So much so that I decided to get some t-shirts made in my arsenal of business coaching tools that say “Wake Up”.
Wake Up Shirt Logo Back
Wake Up Shirt-Front
This isn’t just any ole t-shirt. I can honestly say it is the most comfortable (and expensive) I’ve ever worn.
Produced by ONNO”¦It is made of Bamboo, Hemp, and Organic Cotton-all sustainable fibers.
Bamboo: The fastest growing plant on Earth. Produces more oxygen than trees. Grows in most climates. Requires very little water to grow.
Hemp: Yeah. Pretty much the same as Bamboo. Grows anywhere, fast, requires very little water, and leaves the topsoil in great shape. Naturally pest resistant.
Organic Cotton: Grown on fields that have been chemically free for at least 3 years. Regular cotton consumes 25% of the world’s pesticides (that’s 2 billion pounds).
I like nice things. I especially like nice things that aren’t killing mother earth. How would you like one of these shirts”¦FREE? All you have to do is send me a story that I will use on my blog. A story of how you witnessed people “Waking Up”. What business coaching tools have you used or saw that helped wake up friends, coworkers, staff or yourself?
Maybe it will be a story of team building, vulnerability based trust, kindness, love, corporate sustainability? It’s up to you. Read my blogs if you need more examples of what waking up looks like to me.
I’m looking forward to your stories.
Wake Up on the front, and my logo Primal Leadership on the back, FREE, for a story I republish.
“¦ But I can’t guarantee you’ll look as good as my model in it.
Remember when you send the story to include that I have the right to publish.
Thanks and have fun!!!
Hi Jerry,
I too was honored and felt immensely grateful for some feedback I received from a Client that he is informing me is “Waking Him Up”.
The Client I’m referencing has enjoyed an immensely successful 30 year career as a photographer — pictures we’ve probably all seen in magazines. Like many other businesses, the business of photography is changing radically and it is becoming harder to earn a living commensurate with which he has become accustomed to. He wanted to
receive coaching to help him determine A) whether he wanted continue in this profession and B) How, if he did decide to remain in the business, how he could re-invent himself.
Like many of our Clients (and ourselves) our “Saboteur” (Gremlin) (Lower Self)… Whatever we want to refer to it as can grab hold of the steering wheel and either pull the car off to the side of the road and shut the engine off or make a U Turn and take us in the opposite direction of where we want to go.
Here are a few things that have helped my Client “WAKE UP” (and while I’m honored to receive the positive feedback, I’m more honored to be have the privilege of helping my Client help himself.
#1Movement to Elude Saboteur: When feeling overwhelmed and hijacked by his sabotuer, he will implement (literally physically if he is in his office or in his mind if he is with Clients) a “juke” move (a hop or a movement to deceive an opponent). By doing so, he has eluded his saboteur and then he envisions the saboteur falling off of him. When I write this it actually sounds silly but the power of geography and movement in the coaching session has provided this Client with something he using to evoke transformation and “WAKE UP”.
#2 Mindful Word Selections That Tie To Values: In linguistics, very small changes in words can have a huge impact in the outcome (think about discussions with colleagues, friends or even better, our spouses). Shame inspiring words like “Have To” “Need To” “Should Do More Of XYZ” have become “flagged” words that create a “spell check” / error message for him and when they arise in his journaling, conversation or notes to himself, he autocorrects to a word that aligns to his values — e.g. “I WANT to do “XYZ” because it will bring me closer to “ABC”
#3 Mantra & Affirmation: In an effort to mitigate “overwhelm” of all the To Do’s and change that my Client wants to evoke, he, like many of us, can quickly downslide far off into the future. We worked to implement a mantra that would work for him… he selected the quote by author John Bytheway: “Inch By Inch Life’s A Cinch… Yard By Yard, Life is Hard.
I was thrilled to hear not only that my Client was accountable and putting these challenges / requests but elated to hear how they are shifting his perspective and enabling him to step into more of what he wants and is capable of.
I can be a quick study AND I can be a slow learner. Both have come into play in regards to building a team. Coming in as upper management is never easy. I learned that QUICKLY. What I didn’t get right away is why “they” didn’t see “me”. The me that’s authentic. The me that’s no bs. The me who will hold my people accountable all the while standing in the fire with them.
Quick answer? They didn’t trust me. Trust is earned and it takes time and consistency to earn it. Not a big secret here but definitely easy to forget.
Leadership is not about leading as much as it is about following. Again, not secret there. So why don’t we do it….all the time? What stops me from being coached and learning all that I can at every juncture of my life? That’s the mystery!
I’ve read books from my heros Patrick Lencioni and Brene’ Brown. I’ve been taught and coached by the best. Some days I remember, some days I don’t. I choose to learn quickly or slowly. And it’s just that…a choice!
Once I got out of my own way and lead with the conviction that lives in my heart and soul, my staff started to buy in. I had to be vulnerable to gain their trust. I listened to their ideas and respected them enough to explain mine. Amazing things happen when people feel heard and respected.
Do I get what I want? Yep! Pretty much every time. The key is that sometimes what I want is in the minds of my staff. They have a better idea than me! Go figure!!!!
So my intention, as a leader, is to remain teachable, hungry for knowledge and coachable. I also have an intention speak my truth to those that I trust. In this intention, I’m able to create a higher version of myself. At the end of the day, this shines light on my company. It’s a true and pure mission.