Bridging Lives Notes - Prior Notes
Be in the conversation for growing your leadership and partnering to thrive. Check links from prior issues below.
What strikes a chord with you? Do you have a question or issue you would like me to chime in on?
I welcome hearing from you.
What strikes a chord with you? Do you have a question or issue you would like me to chime in on?
I welcome hearing from you.
We're in this together.
That's one of the most prominent mantras I keep hearing in these times of social upheaval and global pandemic. It's true in a way. … How will we emerge from this? What ideas and what practices will prevail? Who do we need to become so that the promise of this Global Reset is realized, not lost?… Something keeps moving us forward. What is it for you?
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Moving forward together necessarily means we must confront conflict more skillfully, more consciously, and with better purpose. Conflict and collaboration are two sides of the same hand. A vision and commitment for "better" and the leadership to get there are, by definition, a commitment to confront conflict. Confront it and discover its creative magic. … “Conflict,” like trust, is a multi-dimensional, emotionally loaded concept. We tend to think of it as negative – namely, disruptive and destructive. Conflict can, however, also be positive – namely, disruptive and constructive or generative. What makes the difference?
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After nearly two months of global pandemic response measures, what changes are especially impacting you - for better and for worse? As the reality of an emerging "new world" order starts to take shape around you, who are you becoming, what are your new priorities, and what are you creating? When you take stock of the various ways you are adapting to what's asked or required of you, what do you feel open to now?
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As we all ride waves of massive change catalyzed by the CV-19 global pandemic, "pivot" is emerging as a central call to action.
Pivot to survive. Pivot away from what has become a dead end - personally and professionally. Pivot to protect against threats and vulnerabilities you never encountered before.
Pivot to take care of what's immediately in front of you.
Pivot to realign with more meaningful or life-affirming priorities. Pivot towards being more adaptive, navigating the unknown, and embracing the new. Pivot to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Pivot to create something better…as best you can.
What is your pivot…really?
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This is my gift to you in support of our wellbeing so we can lead well in these extraordinary times of crisis and change. As you are called to your “next edge,” engage for practices that bring you to a more open, present, and connected self.
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"Leader as Creator" is my theme this year. What does "Leader as Creator" mean to you? What is your generative response to what's in front or you and to what's arising within you? How are you choosing to "be the change" you wish to see and feel, especially in the face of fear, loss, and letting go? All of our humanity is being called on now. Kindness is what we have to give and receive generously. …As you pause to re-vision for yourself, notice what has heart and meaning for you now. It may have changed from even a day ago. Related to this, what will you redesign now to stay ahead of the curve, ahead of the waves?
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"Leader as Creator" is not about being perfect. We are all works in progress and have permission to be human. "Leader as Creator" is about being aware and doing your best at the time and with what you have. When we fall, we get up again. Eventually we learn what can be better, and we get better at it. Care + Courage + Candor is an amazingly effective recipe for engaging in difficult conversations for better outcomes. Radical Candor is a "just right" blend of caring personally and challenging directly. How might you practice where you are?
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My theme here is the freedom to make waves and win. You surely know the distinction between playing not to lose and playing to win. Here, enjoy the story of one remarkable woman - Bianca Valenti - who plays to win and is making big waves as she goes. The essence of our work together is to partner such that this champion thrives while riding formidable waves. Who inspires or empowers you to be a bigger, truer, better version of you?
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Pretty consistently, my clients are at some point facing into some version of this real-life gauntlet. They want to give the new challenge/opportunity their best so that they, their teams, and their ventures succeed. The "stretch" feels very real and may even shake the foundations of who they think they are and can be as leaders. … The "stretch" may challenge their sense of self-worth and call into question whether going for it is even worth it. … As motivated as you may be to go beyond your comfort zone and be in the learning zone, you still have to attend to real human needs that arise in the face of perceived threat. What can make you - or someone you lead - more willing and able to face into a perceived threat and take the steps needed to learn, maybe fail, and ultimately succeed?
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What's your life like when you're experiencing more trust? … At least in theory, you surely know that trust is essential for masterful leadership and it’s like the connective tissue of our lives. We tend to talk about the presence of trust in rather vague, aspirational terms but get very specific and visceral when trust is broken, shattered, or absent. It might be more accurate to say that sustaining or restoring authentic trust through a "storm" is the real superpower. …
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Tell me about "power" where you are. … Cultivating your identity and mastery as a leader includes diversifying how you perceive and interact with power. What happens when we bring self-awareness to any type of power? …Succeeding together is premised on powerful conversations. We learn and evolve what "success" means and coordinate action to achieve it through conversation. We create practically everything through conversation. What conversations are missing - or missing the mark - where you are?
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Courageous authenticity is essential for effective and life-affirming leadership. It's also essential for anything "transformational." While there seems to be a generalized uptick in the use of the word “transformational” in connection with almost anything, that “bigness” can ring hollow in the absence of courageous authenticity. There’s an art to courageous authenticity. While “speaking your mind” may be necessary, it is not sufficient. Why? How are you looking for and cultivating courageous authenticity where you are? …
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When we experience volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) in our work, growth might not feel like a high priority. … Growth can cut to the core of our identity and how we matter in the world. There’s something exhilarating and enlivening about choosing to grow. …
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…[Y]ou probably know what differentiates you as an expert. How clear are you about what differentiates you as an effective leader? … Recent groundbreaking study data validates what’s at the heart of leader effectiveness. …
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…Engagement and culture are foundational to unlocking an organization’s growth… . When efforts to improve engagement somehow fall flat or produce a quick spike in activity only to be followed by more of what was not working before, what do you do then?…
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Really good questions make us pause.
What happens so we can “live into” a question?
What happens when we are there?
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Most of what we practice is habitual and unconscious. When we become curious about patterns, we start to see what’s becoming true. … When you listen - and live into - the question, you might hear or sense something that has been waiting for you.
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Who comes to mind when you think of your biggest challenges right now? Does starting with “who” seem odd? … How you show up in those conversations will make all the difference in recognizing, learning from and rising to those challenges together.
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Have you heard of C-IQ before? C-IQ is shorthand for “conversational intelligence.” That’s your capacity to up-regulate what is happening and what is possible in conversation, co-creating results with other people. … Your leadership success rides on the quality of your conversations.
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Facing into what’s before you, how might you need to pivot in order to fulfill your promise for growth? … When we’re “wrapped around the axle,” there’s precious little space to interact with creative thinking and receptivity to new ideas.
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Where do you turn when your best efforts to move or improve a situation lead you to a dead end? What gives you heart – the stamina, direction and internal wherewithal – to get perspective, renew your resources and try again?
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Transition necessary for transformation is an internal process, a developmental one. From a growth mindset, the transition itself is a source of renewal, learning and opportunity. … It’s in the wilderness that we especially need new perspective.
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What’s the first essential step for design thinking? Here's a hint: It’s something that gives you new perspective in the wilderness. It’s a way of being. ... What could you be better at and why would it matter?
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The call for wise leadership surely comes from an urgent need to get better at creating positive change in our world. …From where I stand, I see that wisdom has to be more than a nice idea. It makes something happen.
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A CEO came to me recently for presence coaching. She was preparing for a “pitch” – a presentation to gain significant financial support for her venture. … Big lights. High stakes. Big nerves.
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What is your commitment to building your business for greater benefit? … Indeed, you have new options for reorienting what works to become something better.
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At the crossroads that day we listened more deeply and gave voice to something essential for letting go while also stepping forward. It was an instance of shared creativity and compassionate mindfulness.
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Collaboration is hard-wired into our nature. That doesn't make it easy though. … How can we encourage creative tension and not be derailed by it?
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What took her by surprise was the treasure within that she uncovered by slowing down, listening for and claiming aspects of herself that would open possibilities she had not yet dreamed of. …
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Lead. Collaborate. Grow. ... to Thrive!
