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Étiquette : development

From Admiration to Incarnation

Magritte, coaching, admiration
René MAGRITTE – L’étoile du matin, 1938 – Huile sur toile, 50 x 61 cm

 
When it’s not about pride

Often attributed to the hubris of the ancient Greeks or to the sin of pride as Christianity calls it, the self-promotion of our own assets is discouraged in many Western and Eastern societies, while humility is highly praised. Rightly or wrongly, the result is that from earliest childhood, ignorance – or even non-recognition or denial – of one’s own qualities is reinforced, with the corollary of a lack of self-confidence and a difficulty blossoming. We are so used to looking up that we forget to look at ourselves – selfies aside – and as a result, we miss out on realizing just how beautifully and perfectly imperfect we are.

So, in a world where competitiveness is a reality and is constantly increasing, identifying one’s strengths, talents or positive differentiators stimulates self-confidence. It also helps to find or regain a rightful place in the social setting, a space where one can evolve and feel sufficiently at ease to have an equal exchange with peers.

A self-coaching tool

Put another way, the question is about how to build a sustainable balance between excessive pride which doesn’t support fruitful exchanges and self-depreciation which is an obstacle to growth. There are a number of techniques that can be used to boost self-esteem. The « Role Model » is one of them, suitable to all ages, genders, social levels and cultures.

First of all, identify two or three people YOU particularly admire. Here, by « people » I mean any real or imaginary individual, known personally or through any kind of media, admired for their acts, their impact, their attitude or their values. This could be your grandmother who is a war survivor, your godfather who achieved a brilliant career, a teacher who traveled the world, a politician who fearlessly faced his own party, a revolutionary artist from the Middle-Ages, or even a cartoon hero or a character from a sci-fi novel who protected their planet.

Maybe you will need to think back to when you were adolescents or children, at an age when your dreams were still vivid.

Actually, it doesn’t matter so much who those idols are, so long as you have sincere thoughts such as « If only I could be or act like X ». What’s more, it doesn’t matter whether the reasons for this admiration match with reality or not. It matters even less if others share the same opinion or not. What counts here is that you are able to verbalize the reasons or rather the components of your deep admiration and pinpoint the underlying values, strengths and talents. What makes these heroes so appreciated? What inspires you? What is behind these acts or behaviors that makes them so admirable for you?

In fact, starting from the principle that we can only appreciate what we have already experienced and in contrast to the externalizing conversations used in psychotherapy to help patients dissociate themselves from their problems, this is an internalizing technique, aimed at allowing you to realize the treasures you have inside of you, especially if these treasures are ignored or unused.

From observation to ownership

Once you have identified the ‘components’ of admiration (e.g. courage, creativity, resilience, kindness etc.) divide them into two categories: those you possess, even if only in part, and those you believe you don’t possess. In the most extreme cases – if you feel you have none of these qualities – just make a ranking. In this way, you will bring in a gradation in your own judgment.

The next step is to find both what to capitalize on and what to develop, as the key is to remember that what we admire in others is often already in us without being aware of it. Then a double dynamic develops.

By working on the characteristics already possessed, illustrate them using as many concrete examples as possible, recent and less recent. List actions, highlight experiences where you successfully expressed these values. You need to realize and feel that you are not starting from scratch, that you already have a base to draw from, a base for growth. This will be the stage where the foundations of improved self-esteem are built or strengthened.

Then, in the range of attributes you consider not to possess, choose those that are most desirable to attain or develop…while keeping in mind that an envied characteristic may hide a latent need. To admire someone for his or her sporting victories can express a deep respect for strength of character or express the need for recognition…and therefore love. Listen to yourself and possibly detect the wisest doors to open. The aim is to open the field of possibilities.

From ownership to action

Finally comes the stage of generating ideas as to the different ways in which these dreamt characteristics could be experienced, or how these strengths could be developed. How can you express these characteristics, how could you behave more like your role model? However seemingly insignificant or ambitious the acts, attitudes or rituals, it doesn’t matter. Start small, very small. Progress step by step. What could you put in place? What could you stop doing? What can you do differently? What can you do instead? How can you slowly incarnate your role model?

The action plan to develop is then very simple: choose the first of these actions to implement in your daily life, then a second, a third and so on according to a program that induces a positive spiral and moves from admiration to incarnation. And keep momentum.

The objective of the exercise described here is first the revelation, and second the appropriation of your desired values. What is sought is the embodiment of personality traits as a simple stage of your development without being an end in itself because the development of your personality necessarily passes through the acceptance and appreciation of your own uniqueness.

So, who are your role models?

 

“There is an innocence in admiration: it occurs in one who has not yet realized that they might one day be admired.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

 

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Gérer le changement

Oscar Dominguez, insight, coaching, changement
Oscar DOMINGUEZ – Dans l’atelier, 1955 – Huile sur toile, 54.2 x 65.1 cm

 

Nous avons déjà présenté la stratégie développée par Peter Bregman pour gérer au mieux son énergie.

Marcia Reynolds quant à elle suggère trois questions à se poser pour mieux gérer son énergie et se focaliser sur l’essentiel lorsque l’on est confronté à la difficulté du changement :

  1. Qu’est-ce qu’il m’est possible maintenant de créer ou d’influencer ?
  2. Lorsque j’observe mes pensées ainsi que la façon dont j’utilise mon temps, comment décrirais-je la façon dont j’utilise mon énergie ?
  3. Que me faut-il pour focaliser davantage mes pensées et mes actions sur ce que je peux créer ou influencer ?

Le contrôle, c’est la sensation que vous éprouvez lorsque vous tirez avantage des circonstances pour créer ou trouver la façon dont vous pouvez avancer

Combien d’énergie dépensez-vous à gérer des émotions liées à des situations qui sont hors de votre contrôle? La façon d’allouer son énergie est un choix ; consacrer son énergie à tenter de gérer ce que l’on ne peut changer est la voie royale vers l’épuisement. Focalisez-vous donc sur ce qui est sous votre contrôle – comme prendre soin de vous ou trouver une autre façon d’interagir avec les gens que vous appréciez moins –  et développez de nouvelles compétences qui vous intéressent.

 

Source : Psychologytoday.com

 

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How to spark creativity when you’re in a rut?

creativity, insight, coaching, art, paolo scheggi, innovation
Paolo SCHEGGI – Zone riflesse, 1963 – Acrylique blanc sur trois couches de toile, 80,5 x 80,5 x 5,5 cm

 

Priscillia Claman from Career Strategies Inc. presents five questions to identify if you are in a creativity-destroying rut and four strategies to be back on track.

  • Is there a recurring pattern to your workdays — what you do, whom you meet with?
  • Do you feel it is important to agree with your colleagues and bosses in order to get along?
  • Do you see obstacles everywhere to new ideas and new ways of doing things?
  • Do you find yourself saying, “That won’t work. It’s been tried too many times before.”
  • Do you think, “It doesn’t matter what I do, really. They don’t care.” Even when you’re not sure who “they” are.

 Answering ‘yes’ to the above questions highlights a situation where your creativity is undermined. 

Here are the work-related she suggests to let innovation flourish and your creativity raise again:

  • Think new. Meet new colleagues. Talk to new clients. Ask for new assignments. Explore something new — a new program, a new product, a new process. This is not just adding something to your CV; you will reinvent yourself.
  • Look for intersections. A lot of creativity occurs at the crossroads of different people and different ideas. Look for places where your department intersects with other departments. What do they do that helps your department? That gets in the way? Volunteer for any cross-functional activity you can. This will also enlarge your network.
  • Capitalize on obstacles as every obstacle is an opportunity for research, analysis and growth. Why is it there? Whom does it serve? What are its effects? What are other ways of getting the results you’re looking for? Start by selecting obstacles you can change, and move on from there. Then pick up obstacles which are in your influence zone and do the same.
  • Share what you know. Nothing makes you clarify your thoughts like sharing what you know, as a trainer, a mentor or just through daily working sessions. These opportunities are highly engaging and will fulfill you at an emotional level too.

 

Source : hbr.org

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Top 10 skills you must develop

cy twombly, insight, coaching, art-therapie, business coaching, career coaching, skills
Cy TWOMBLY – Sans titre, 1972 – huile, craie à la cire et crayon sur toile, 202 x 260 cm

 

The latest Forum report, The Future of Jobs, looks at the employment, skills and workforce strategy for the future.

Having asked chief human resources and strategy officers from leading global employers what the current shifts mean, specifically for employment, skills and recruitment across industries and geographies, they identified the top 10 skills you need to thrive in the fourth industrial revolution. Skills that make us irreplaceable in a world where more and more jobs will be taken over by robots.

  1. Complex problem solving
  2. Critical thinking
  3. Creativity
  4. People management
  5. Coordinating with others
  6. Emotional intelligence
  7. Judgment and decision making
  8. Service orientation
  9. Negociation
  10. Cognitive flexibility

Note that Emotional intelligence and Cognitive flexibility replaced Quality control and Active listening in the list.

So, what does your personal development plan look like?

 

Source: Future of Jobs Report, World Economic Forum

 

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Are you in danger of becoming obsolete?

Cedric-Lefebvre-insight-coaching-089

 

In a previous article we have seen that, little by little, robots replace humans: one recent study suggests that 47% of all jobs in the United States will be threatened by this phenomenon within the next two decades – another states that 40% of Australian jobs are at risk of being automated within ten to fifteen years. In Europe, the software Quill has already replaced journalists and is used by the newspaper Le Monde during election nights. The specialised research firm Roland Berger says that 42% of jobs will be automated by 2030. 

Should you be worried? Karie Willyerd and Barbara Mistick developed a short (i.e. 15 questions) assessment allowing you to find out if you are at risk or if you are adapting yourself in an evolving environment. Your score will be compared with HBR readers average.

To pass the test which will consider various topics such as how up to date you are regarding the emerging technologies affecting your industry and the profile of your network , click here.

Pursuing this matter, let’s consider what the futurists Graeme Codrington, Joe Tankersley and John Danaher say: front-line military personnel will be replaced with robots; private bankers and wealth managers will be replaced with algorithms; lawyers, accountants, actuaries, and consulting engineers will be replaced with artificial intelligence.

And considering on-demand economy, environmental consciousness, ageing population or advances in neurotechnology, what will be the top jobs in 10 years? Actually, here is the top 12 they predict (click here for the full description):

  • Personal worker brand coaches and managers
  • Professional triber
  • Freelance professors
  • Urban farmers
  • End-of-life planner
  • Senior carer
  • Remote health care specialist
  • Neuro-implant technicians
  • Smart-home handyperson
  • Virtual reality experience designer
  • Sex worker coach
  • 3-D printer design specialist

So, are you ready?

 

Sources: LeMonde.fr, HBR.org, FastCompany.com

 

 

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