EP82: Are You Ready to Say Yes to Leveling Up?
REALLY CHECK YOUR READINESS
It will make a difference in the long-term results!
Enjoy!
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(The notes below are only a brief summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
I’m in the business of helping people (whether it’s on an individual basis, in groups/teams or entire organizations) learn something new so they can elevate in some way. It might be a skillset that they want to learn or improve. It might be around understanding themselves and or their teams better so they now how to work most effectively and collaboratively. It might be getting more confidence so they can start their business, get that promotion or show up in a way that amplifies who they are instead of shrinking.
Regardless of the actual area – it requires some type of change.
Change in knowledge.
Change in relationships – with self and with others.
Change in focus.
Change in identity.
Change in belief.
Change in way of thinking.
Change is one of my favorite topics because change is always and everywhere. It deserves lots of space and attention. Yet – it doesn’t actually get enough. Often times it’s met with resistance. That could be because of a lack of change awareness and change readiness. Taking an inside out approach will increase the effectiveness and level of sustainability of change – making it more sticky.
As I do discovery calls or when I have conversations with people who are exploring the possibility of working with me – in 1:1 coaching or Insights workshop or any other leadership development area – we certainly talk about current state (what is going on), desired state (what you’d like the future to be) and possible barriers. We talk about when has been tried before, what has worked and what hasn’t worked. I usually have a pretty good idea of what I think a next best step is for the person or the team. We talk about what that is and showcase all of the possibilities. People usually get pretty excited or hopeful.
And then there is a point where a decision has to be made. No matter how you or your team might go about elevating and changing (on own, through a course, etc.) – a decision has to be made to either say YES to it, or to say NO.
Of course – I love when people and teams want to say yes to themselves – because I believe everyone, every team, every organization has the ability to create whatever results they want. But I also respect when the answer is no. Because that just means that they aren’t ready yet. There is probably some lack of belief or fear of the unknown (although it may be under the guise of not enough time, or don’t have the money or don’t have the support of others…which of course, might be true too).
Bringing awareness to the objections is necessary. I think that is a great time to really examine your readiness (or your team’s readiness). And actually – I think even those that are a hard yes right from the get-go should also examine their readiness.
When I was thinking about this – a bunch of questions popped into my head. Questions that I don’t actually ask in this way during a consult or discovery call. I am sharing those questions here so maybe YOU can ask them of yourself.
I have one rule: you can’t say I DON’T KNOW or MAYBE. It’s a cop out. It keeps your brain confused. It doesn’t set direction one way or the other.
The Questions
Think about something that you are looking to achieve (again – promotion, a business, a new skill, gaining confidence, working with others more effectively) and answer these questions. And be honest. No judgement.
Do you want to change? Do you want to get unstuck? Do you want to elevate? Or do you want to stay on this path? Do you want something to be different?
Are you willing to learn how to be self aware?
Are you willing to put yourself first for a while?
Are you ready to lean into the unknown? (get comfortable with the uncomfortable)
Are you willing to go through the river of misery?
Are you willing to delay instant gratification / expectation that the result will be quick? Are you willing to go deeper that the bandaid? (of course – there can be quick wins!!)
Are you willing to take responsibility and own your results vs. blaming others?
Are you willing to being open to all of the possibilities?
Are you willing to take risks?
Are you truly ready to become who you can be?
If the answer is no that’s okay! It’s good to know that. Because then you can find out what is underneath that no. What is holding you back? Fear. Money? How can you overcome those? Are you willing to overcome them? Is the possible gain outweigh the risk?
You are probably more ready than you think. Just be honest with yourself now. Ask the questions now and decide if your no’s are worth turning into a yes.
The good news – you don’t have to do ANY of this alone! There are so many resources and tools.
I was thinking about this at the gym the other morning. I was there doing mat Pilates. There were a couple of things that the instructor said that related well to do this self-development work.
The first thing she said was something about how she used to think going hard and doing the high energy exercises was what is needed to work up a sweat and feel like she worked out but now she sweats just as much in the gym doing the lower impact workouts and get the same results and feel stronger. There is something about slowing down and being intentional about your muscle movements. From a fitness standpoint – I totally agree.
I see the similarity in doing development work. It might seem like the big-ticket training programs and lots of books are the answer (not saying those aren’t great – they are. I love them) – but know that sometimes just slowing down and being intentional about spending time to really understanding yourself and your brain – less high energy – but still high impact.
Another thing that we did in this Mat Pilates class is use several additional tools. I had a mat (provides extra cushion and comfort for floor work), a Pilates ball (that helps with core stability and injury prevention as you perform exercises in Pilates), a sliding disc (gliders add resistance to your workouts by increasing the amount of friction between your body and the ground) and hand weights. The instructor said something like: it’s amazing how a simple little tool can change the impact.
That’s what it is like in coaching and leadership development. You can do inner work and skill development work on your own. But when you have a coach, especially one that gives you tools and exercises to help – it can change the perspective, the experience and the impact.
Here are some to-do’s:
Think about your goals and your aspirations in your own leadership, career, entrepreneurship or life. What does the end result look like? What needs to change or what needs to be improved on or what needs to be learned?
Then ask yourself the 10 questions. Are you ready?
Decide what the next best step is. Is it a mentor, a book, a course, a podcast, working with someone?
You’ve got this!
What do you think?
Are you ready to say yes to leveling up?
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