Dear Change Leader,
We’re starting a new year, one that is certain to contain its fair share of unexpected developments. The upcoming change in presidential administration here in the United States is certain to provide many, many events and announcements that will impact the organizations we lead – both here and around the world.
A lot has been – and will be – written about how leaders should prepare themselves to navigate the rocky and uncertain period of time in which we find ourselves.
I don’t have anything new to add to this list of ideas and suggestions.
But I do want to offer you a wish…
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
Neil Gaiman My New Year Wish
Provocative enough for you?
Allow me to add one element to Gaiman’s invitation. And that is my wish that you will Learn From Your Mistakes.
By cultivating your ability to be a ‘reflective leader,’ you can prevent mistakes from simply being mishaps. Reflecting on and learning from your experiences is what makes you an effective leader.
As a reflective leader, you are continually honing your ability to make sense of what has happened, developing theories as to why things happened as they did, and creating experiments so that you can test your new insights.
Can you do this by yourself? Absolutely! And, like many things, there’s a benefit in doing it with someone else.
A leadership coach is an excellent partner for this work of reflection and learning A coach is independent of the power and influence dynamics in your organization, and they offer you the hard questions and perspectives that others might avoid.
A coach appreciates mistakes and views them as a source of learning. And they will help you in the shift from reflection and awareness to meaning and action.
However, coaching is not a panacea! You can’t say, “Oops, I just made a mistake; let me go and get a coach.”
Working with a coach requires a commitment—a commitment to yourself and to learning. To become a more effective leader. To using your experiences—successes and failures—as the grist for learning and insight. And this all requires a commitment of time.
An Invitation for You
Go out and make mistakes! But don’t allow them to just be mistakes…
Allow the mistakes you will inevitably make as you try new things, change yourself, and change the world to fuel your learning and improve your effectiveness!
Here’s to mistakes!
THE BENEFITS OF COACHING FOR LEADERS
Listen to my latest podcast interview to learn more about the benefits of coaching for leaders.
And get in touch to discuss having me as your leadership coach as you become a more effective leader.
EFFECTIVE CHANGE RESULTS FROM INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP
We’re a leadership and organization development consultancy. My team and I work with leaders like you to prepare for and lead successful change processes.
Here’s why our clients call us:
- Leadership Coaching: I support leaders as they navigate transitions into new roles or expanded responsibilities.
- Group Coaching and Learning Programs: Bringing groups of leaders together, I facilitate learning experiences and months-long programs that equip people to be effective change leaders.
- Effective Teams and Stronger Organizations: I work with leaders and their teams through tailored processes that increase their effectiveness, building layers of aligned teams that transform organizations.