4i leaders are inspired by possibility
Toujours l’attaque (a motto we came across of a man who spent every day living life to the full)
Hi, it’s Anthony here.
Last week we started talking about bolder conversations and how they can make all the difference. This week we are going to talk about how important it is to start having those conversations with a possibility mindset.
Are you inspired by possibility or driven by fear is a great question for leaders. Think for a moment about a bold conversation you need to have; a conversation that will address an ongoing frustration or an issue that needs resolving. Does the prospect make you feel fearful? If it does you are not alone. When things are difficult to talk about many people feel anxious or defensive and this fearful mindset quickly brings us into conflict or leaves us feeling misunderstood.
In contrast to this think about having a bolder conversation where you raise an issue in such a way that it opens up possibilities. With this sort of mindset you may be challenging but you will also be genuinely curious. You are open to learning, you are building relationships. Surprisingly, you might even be having fun.
Take the example of Terry who was having career defining conversations with her HR department. When I met her she was in the grip of fear. The future she saw was one where her she felt victim to the process and where she also felt furious with her boss. Yet with some helpful coaching Terry quickly saw there was another way to think about her situation. She could have a bolder conversation with HR which would lead to her leaving the organisation faster and which would help her get a much better redundancy package. When she stopped to think about it she also agreed that she wasn’t flourishing in her current role and could use the time and money to start looking for what she always wanted – work that was closer to her heart and her home. And in this possibility mindset she was able to have a bold conversation that was far more engaging and constructive.
It takes practice to switch from fear to possibility when you aren’t used to it. So find someone to talk to and start identifying that negative self-talk which takes you into fear. Then remind yourself what happens when you are inspired by possibility and how that can change everything!
Here are some helpful questions to consider ….
What tends to happen when you are caught in a fearful mindset?
Who is the best person to go to when you are feeling defensive or anxious?
How different is it for you when you are inspired by possibility?
Tune in next week when we’ll be talking about how to ensure you can spend more time in possibility.