It's Never Too Late For Better Being
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Welp, here we are, with only 30 days left in 2024. Reading that might stir some anxiety, especially if you have goals you'd like to move towards this year. Goals often ignite our "doing" engine, but I invite you to consider how you want to be for the rest of the year. Inspired by Ron Short's Learning in Relationship, here are three thoughts I've been pondering... 1 // Building stronger armor isn't worth it. Many leaders focus on expertise and authority, aiming to protect their image over everything. Simply put, that armor hinders relationship growth. What if your greatest strength wasn't in your defenses, but in allowing others like your peers and your team, to truly see you? Do they know the real you? What if showing vulnerability was as simple as sharing your journey and the challenges you've faced along the way? 2 // Tune your noticing skills. Our world is noisy. So much of our daily communication is scripted and surface-level. Imagine standing on a beach, seeing the ocean, sand, and sky—but when you snorkel beneath the surface, a whole new world appears! To hear and notice more, think of tuning a radio dial. Among the static, you have to carefully adjust to catch a clear signal. Tuning takes patience. Are you only hearing words or truly understanding the message? 3 // Look for small feedback nudges everywhere. To shape a block of ice, would you use a jackhammer or a chisel? Seeking out feedback can be like using a chisel to refine yourself. Feedback may be uncomfortable, but our best changes often lie just beyond our comfort zone. Daily personal reflection is a powerful feedback tool, and you don't have to wait for others to provide it. You don't need to wait for your looming annual performance review. What are some experiences you've had this year that were less direct feedback nudges? Our best relationships as leaders come from a balance of "doing" and "being", and I'll argue that working on your "being" with others will help you get more done in the long run. I've been posting a reflective "check-out" question every Friday on LinkedIn for over a year, and if you'd like a list of 52 check-out questions, you can find it here for free: Kinkou Check-Out Questions.pdf. I promise you'll find a question you should be asking yourself more. Here are a few related resources that I've enjoyed and have been sharing recently: 1 // There's a difference between "Armored vs. Daring Leadership", and Brené Brown explains them both. (40 min podcast) 2 // The danger of a single story. (19 min video) 3 // The riddle of the well-paying, pointless job. (10 min read) If you enjoyed this, would you forward it to 1 friend who might like it too? Subscribing is easy, below.
I hope you all have a great December! With gratitude, Jason P.S. - There are 3 ways I can help you when you're ready: working with you 1:1 as a leader, helping your team "team" better, and learning as a group how to manage Accidental Diminishing tendencies with the Multipliers Leadership Development program. You are receiving this email because you subscribed at https://kinkou.org. Did you make some changes or no longer want to receive these emails? You can update your profile or unsubscribe below. |