Leading from the Inside Out, or “How to have greater impact”

When you were establishing yourself in your career, or trying to reinvent yourself, where/who did you look to for direction?

In my 20’s, I used to ask friends and neighbors what I should be doing, or how to figure out what I should be doing. They were confused why I was asking them – and I didn’t realize that I’d need to figure it out for myself.

I got tired of working in software development, which didn’t leverage my skills – even though I wasn’t entirely clear what those were.

Then I got into teaching ESL, because that’s what my neighbors G and S did; working with international students sounded fun. It was, but still not aligned with who I wanted to be – even though I wasn’t sure what that was yet!

So, back to software…

While observing me facilitate a process redesign, the HR Director where I was working asked if I would serve as her management consultant. Yes! I knew that this was moving me in the right direction, towards Organizational Development (OD).

So I went to get training in OD. I decided that I would just be open to the learning, whatever it was and wherever it would lead to – and it turned out to be exactly the right move.

My experience in that training was that I had found my “home” and kindred spirits. What I learned was that “Who I was” – my presence and the way I interacted with people, was more important than “What I had achieved.”

Here’s some of their feedback;
1.     Thanks for your quiet storm presence and inquiring sensitivity.
2.     In my life I need to learn always to appreciate stillness. You have a calm and stillness about you that felt like a tranquil pond.
3.     Thank you for your beautiful, quiet strength and support and for much more!
4.     Thank you for your courage and strength.

Wow! I felt fully seen. Such a heart-warming affirmation of my presence and ability to influence – which is what leaders want to talk about in our coaching sessions. They want to better understand how to use themselves as an “instrument of change” – how to use “Who they are” in service of creating the impact and outcomes that they’re seeking.

There’s a direct link between my experience and the Executive Coaching that I do. I delight in partnering with my clients – leaders and consultants – on their development journey, helping them find the answers inside themselves and helping them align “Who they are” with “What they do” and ”What they want to create.”

If you want to Lead from the Inside Out, or to have greater impact, let’s talk.