24 Mar What did you learn in the last 2 weeks?
I learnt that I really value being appreciated, and that acknowledgement and appreciation are a core motivator for me. I have always known this (ENNEA 3; Words of Affirmation – Love Languages), but because it was generally part of my working life, I took it for granted. Now that my work has shifted and I am spending more time building a business that solves the problems that historically frustrated me, and less time facilitating groups of people; my acknowledgement and appreciation tank is emptier. My request to all of you, regardless of your role in your organisation or if you work on your own, is to appreciate and acknowledge the people who are in your sphere of influence. People, regardless of their rank, role or profile do appreciate being noticed and valued.
On the upside as I educate and talk to channel partners and potential clients about Inspired Leadership, how it is designed, what the impact is, how it creates real tangible value and what the long-term vision is, people are really blown away. So, I do get that extra little kick of acknowledgement that clearly, I have been missing! An itch that is getting scratched! I love to share the story of Inspired Leadership, the values that glue it together and the unconventional approach that have been developed out of my own frustrations and as a way to address the gaps that have existed in our traditional approach to learning.
My third learning for the last 2 weeks is a reminder to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is not weakness; it is the courage to own your own truth. I had the privilege to have worked in a position in internal L&D where work is endless. You almost never had to market yourself, your approaches or products. The “buyer” is a fait-accompli. Big corporates can train the entrepreneur right out of one! And now on the outside, a small business with big potential, I am acutely aware that people won’t hear about what I have to offer them, unless I tell them, but that is a stretch out of my comfort zone.
I met with one of my clients and asked them to create a bridge between their company (where Inspired Leadership is already creating value) and their holding company as a potential client. My client, an internal HR Director was trapped in the same thinking pattern I had previously been: not thinking about building a business or connecting with others or sharing, leveraging & collaborating and so my request was quite a shock. She soon recovered and the lights went on and she started getting all creative about what we could do. But it took prompting and a very direct ask. I had to be vulnerable and ask for her help and she did.
I would love to hear what you learnt in the last 2 weeks…. Reflecting on your learning is as important as learning it the first time. That’s what we do in Inspired Leadership, so am eating my own cooking! Add your learning in the comments below.
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