In a few days I have the opportunity to address a large audience on the topic of Now is the Time to Declare a New Leadership Paradigm: Leading So People Will Lead. I thought a lot about how best to use the almost three hours available to me. I am passionate about this topic and want to do a good job. I so very much hope that the participants leave the session having been inspired sufficiently to think about embracing the new leadership paradigm. My first plan was complex with a lot of information to be shared and reflected on. I realized that it was too ambitious a plan and so I spent considerable time simplifying it. In any preparation, I find this to be the hardest part of my leadership….keeping it simple. And so as I finalized my plan today, I have a limited number of points I will make, and a limited number of reflection exercises for participants to engage in, giving them a lot of time in each reflection exercise to go deeply into their conversations, experiences, thoughts and conclusions. I am hoping I chose just the right points from among the many I could make. I am hoping I chose just the right exercises to accomplish my hopes.
As I sit here and contemplate, I remember how hard ‘keeping it simple’ is on the ego. How can I shine in my expertise if I keep it simple? How can I offer leadership if I keep it simple? How can I be perceived as being an expert if I keep it simple? Yes, the approach of keeping it simple is challenging for the ego. However, I am guided by one of the five beliefs of Genuine Contact—the one about keeping it simple.
“We believe in keeping it simple. Simple frameworks and processes enable success with complex situations. In keeping it simple, we recognize that any sustainable change must begin from the inside and cannot be externally initiated or driven.”
What do you do when you are faced with a challenge that feels pretty big? Do you have guiding beliefs written out that you can go back to for guidance for yourself and your actions? Consider developing a few guiding beliefs for yourself, refer back to them when making decisions, and determining for yourself if you find this useful.
