Every Thursday, we provide you with a thoughtful way to coach yourself – something all leaders need to do. So take five and enjoy the inspirational quotes and reflect on the questions that follow. Your comments and answers to the questions are most welcome!
“Being with the way things are calls for an expansion of ourselves. We start from what is, not from what should be; we encompass contradictions, painful feelings, fears, and imaginings, and- without fleeing, blaming, or attempting correction – we learn to soar, like the far-seeing hawk, over the whole landscape. The practice of being with the way things are allows us to alight in a place of openness, where “the truth” readies us for the next step, and the sky opens up.” From The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.
- As you consider what you must communicate, can you begin with what is, even when it is unpleasant?
- Do the words you speak express what is or are they focused on what should be?
- Are you grounded in the present as a prelude to future possibility?
- What is the truth about what is, and how will you speak of it?
Understanding the way things currently are is indeed the most critical step of any new beginning. Many people focus on the long term objectives and how their work life should be, while not truly appreciating and internalizing exactly where they are right now. The only real way to move beyond what is to what should be is by the comprehension of a creative tension between where we are and where we should be. Without an accurate idea of the status quo, one can never truly develop a new roadmap to their hopeful and anticipated future. You can’t know the steps to follow if you’re only looking off in the distance. Thank you for the reminder!
Thanks for stating the importance of “what is” to getting to “what will be” so succinctly Christian!
Thanks Mary Jo! A very timely post post many of the new directions started this term at the MITA Brain Center!
To start with what is, compels us in new directions to focus on what could be! This is a real keeper!
Thanks Ellen. I think so too.
Thank you Mary Jo. In the fast paced world of today, it is very easy to jump ahead and rush into the future without having an understanding of the current state of things. Doing so sometimes saves time in the short run, but usually leads to time wasted in the long run. By not taking the time to assess the “as is”, one often creates problems that could have been avoided or overcome with proper planning or awareness. The “could be” or “should be” state is more likely to come to fruition if one is willing to take the time to fully assess the “as is” state.
Thanks Ricky. You and I know this is true. One of the most difficult things for leaders to do is to reflect – on almost anything. It means taking the time to reflect, which often doesn’t feel much like action (which they get rewarded for).