What a gift I'm giving myself! Yea! I think... uh, kind of...
I'm about to step, literally, into visceral, mechanical, real change. I'm taking this action choicefully. If I was my own client, I'd say, "All the more courageous". No matter, my inside demons are having a raging conversation. Some innermost voice is fearfully screaming, "Do I really need to do this? Do I have to?"
Another inside voice, sounding like I'm talking to one of my clients offers, "No Rudy, you don't have to. At the same time, what shift in performance can you expect if you don't step into change? Yes, there's some risk."
"Good point", pause, "But boots aren't cheap, and if I get this new alignment, what if it doesn't work the way its supposed to?"
Wait a minute! Hit the pause button! This discussion is about, uh, boots? Yep, ski boots actually.
That is, new boots, ones with a completely different fit. I could easily blow this off and simply blame the economy, for what could be seen as an amazing luxury. At the same time, because (fortunately for me) I spend a lot of days on snow with clients and colleagues, my boots are a tool that simply have to work. Oh that the issue was this simple.
So boots, the change I'm facing, isn't really a choice. I can make the case I need this change. And still its not bad enough that my ski boots have had it, beat to death, beginning to be sloppy in fit. The good news is I get new boots. The issue is deeper, the bad news is I get new boots.
Yes, so obvious by now, my boots are a metaphor for all the challenge leaders step into, not into boots, but into work...
You see, based on everything I've been experimenting with in my skiing, changing my boots doesn't just mean foot fit. This is whole change: in alignment which changes the whole stance on skis, which changes how the skis function, and hence how I, uh, am more effective or not. This shift changes center of balance, movement, and flow. It is likely going to create lot's of positive changes I need to make... except, what if it doesn't?
Just like my clients facing old habits that no longer serve them, I've come head on into the clear reality that something needs to change. And, almost nothing is harder than letting go of old habits. "Unconscious and comfortable" easily translates to a sense of misguided safety. I know exactly how my old boots fit, what they do, and how they do it. I've had radically successful days and events happen on those boots. Those boots got me here after all! My results have been really good! ... until I needed something that is, "next." The next level of performance.
I consistently hear prospective clients say some variation of "I'm good, we're good at what we do. And, I feel like there's something more out there. I know we can do better, but I don't know how."
The good news is the old habit, the alignment and comfortable fit is what got you (and me) here. At the same time, from experience, its likely that the old fit and alignment, the old habits, won't support me or you in what needs to happen next.
So, this week I begin to work with my boot guy collaboratively to find new fit that provides even better balance and momentum while moving faster and more aggressively, with better results than ever. May I offer to myself and to you, "Sometimes its real good to have a guide by your side."
Conversations about work and life and leadership may as well be about ski boots and changing fit and alignment. Just like my clients, habits got me here. Without the skill set, I might not even realize its time to realign... I get to remember what I tell my clients now, "What got me here is so "IN ME" that there's no way, I'll loose that awareness or skill set. My awareness, my ability to pay attention to variations in terrain and the changing conditions that confront any skier, dare I say, any leader, will still work. Just as true, different alignment is going to feel odd, I will stand differently, notice actions and activity in different ways than I have in the past. What I know is that I will end up with more. More skill, more agility, more, not less. And still, the little voice of, "what if I don't?"... still shows up. Thus, this change is off putting, on another, what a gift I am to receive.
Like my clients I get to build on everything I know and at the same time, step into something not only new, but completely different. This newness supports how I align myself and stay in balance even as I move, doing my best to use gravity to my benefit, instead of fighting it.
My clients inspire me constantly. I am cracking myself up here. Who knew, from some entrenched fear in getting new boots, I'm inspired again by everything, each of my clients go through! So, I'm really ready for this new fit! Like I said at the start, "What a gift!" rm
Recent Comments