Yesterday I talked about a particularly buffoon moment I had when I was trying to please and more specifically, not disappoint, those in authority at my job. I can laugh about it now and actually was laughing immediately after because A) it was already done and you cannot go back and B) it was very laughable and C) it was completely uncharacteristic of me.
I was in a client meeting where I hadn’t done my homework sufficiently. I had brought in my team to assist me on my agenda. Then, I had somewhat of a meltdown where I actually stopped the meeting and less eloquently than I would have preferred, said “I am freaking out!” How is that for high end Executive Coach material? I am glad I stopped the meeting for it was the right thing to do. The manner that it came out has already taught me more than if I had done it well.
I had taken some other people’s word for things, which is a good thing, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t dig deeper to really uncover the meaning behind their words, the actual thinking and situation behind their words. I did this basically because I really wanted to believe their words, for their surface words were exactly what I had desired and it was a lot easier not to dig. So the meeting was going completely off the rails of what my understanding and expectation had been and thus the freaking out comment to end said meeting. It indeed worked.
I know that digging is what I do. It is who I am and one of my greatest skills. To dig, in myself, question even my own motives and unconscious behaviors and then to do so in others so that we all grow and move toward more positive outcomes for all is my life’s work. I had gotten away from it for some reason. “Happy ears” we call it in sales when we hear only what we want to hear. So what a great gift of learning the whole experience has been for me. My intention in sharing is that it will be for you as well.
