A few weeks ago a friend asked me what exactly is executive coaching and I though of this success story:

Are you a business leader who has been under pressure for a number of years?

Have you not taken a vacation in months or years?

Do you feel close to burnout?

Here is a client success story (names and ülaces have been changed to protect them):

Liminal Spaces

There are physical liminal spaces: waiting rooms at the doctor’s office, airport terminals, airplanes in flight, hallways, bridges, in the car driving somewhere, and doorways…

There are also emotional liminal spaces: graduation, illnesses, deaths of loved ones, job searches, divorce and separation, moving, waiting for that phone call,

COVID19…

and the Ukraine Crisis…

Though in-between times can be very difficult, there is something positive about this liminal space because we learn a lot about ourselves and our (negative and positive) patterns of coping in stressful situations.

As we move towards 2022, I am doing some reflection. It helps to bring about change.

I’m reflecting on my situation and accepting for it is, and then doing what I can about it.

Use your strengths to work on your weaknesses

When you know your strengths, go in the opposite direction for growth. That means gently pushing towards your weaknesses, using your strengths as your basis, as your foundation.

For example, if you are big on doing things right all the time, allow yourself some slack but also keep doing (most things) right. OR- if you want to grow in your relationships and you are good at listening, try sharing and being more vulnerable for growth, at the same time, still asking good questions and practicing active listening.

Healed people Heal people

So, what are you going to do? Join the grumpies and the people who yell, troll, and/or write nasty emails and even publicly “expose” people?

Are you going to be people who say, “I am going to hide in my hole till the mess is over”? It’s never over.

Or

Are we going to help people by looking for the best in others and to accept our personal responsibility for our hurtful ways, asking forgiveness and then moving on to better ways?

We can only change ourselves and our attitudes.

You can change your life, your work, your company. It’s a challenge and it’s possible to change.

When we get feedback we can be wise and try to change or we can be foolish and blame someone or something else to avoid change. It’s our choice of response.

When you move from intuitive and natural leadership to professional leadership you need to reflect on your skills, character, interpersonal competence, and know the systems in place to grow and be the best leader you can be.

How do we grow? First self-discovery of strengths and them work on weaknesses. Use the strengths in crisis and learn to move in the direction of weaknesses for growth.

When we make mistakes, we can learn and grow from the experience.