Grace in the Space

AI Won't Kill Coaching

From Purpose to Promise

A few days ago, a client called to share his thanks for something we had worked on nearly two years ago. He shared that I had encouraged him to work with his team on articulating core promises that they could make and uphold to each other as well as to their customers and suppliers – and then consistently check in with each other and their stakeholders on how well they were keeping their promises, how they could better clarify and uphold these promises. He discussed how initially he thought this idea was easy and rather self-evident (as they had done their work on mission, vision, values, and purpose). But, he continued, he couldn’t believe how powerful it was to bring it viscerally home to the idea of a promise. By keeping dialogue about the promises alive each week, he saw improvements in communication, awareness, creativity, and alignment – and the organization was thriving. This conversation has bounced in my head for several days now. What promises am I making, and how well am I upholding them? What would it mean to promise to deliver on my commitments fully? Maybe I could start with “committing to 20% less so I show up on time, every time.” I feel like a promise brings us home to the core of who we are, including in business and organizations. A promise asks us to reflect on our priorities, values, and relationships. It becomes a personal thing, a matter of integrity. No skip overs or buts….and it can bring us back to realness. No hyperbole or Hail Marys. Honesty. Breath. Reflection. Intention. And maybe promises are a way to rebuild trust in the systems that have become cracked. Living our promises in all the roles we play (as leaders, professionals, friends, parents, etc…) is a daily practice and conversation of growth. How about this week, we all sit down with those closest to us (at work and at home) to discuss and write down the core promises we have to each other and those we interact with (even if they’re through a computer). And we reflect on what comes up and where we need to focus on better alignment and agreement to uphold our promises. Step by step to the power of all we are. Warmly, Sandy P.S. Every day I get more excited about the kick-off summit of the Teton Leadership Center on September 23rd and 24th. Led by leading-edge thinkers and business practitioners, together we’ll focus on “Connecting Deeper and Engaging Wider.” This 1½ day program is a powerful way to grow and join in community on how to ignite this multi-faceted level of leadership to build a vibrant future. I hope you can join us at this transformative event. Register here.

Returning

A few days ago, I went to sleep hearing the mysterious clucking sounds of sandhill cranes. Over the next 3 days, their chorus filled the air, joined by blue herons, trumpeter swans, canada geese and others. I even saw 3 robins yesterday. According to the migration patterns of these incredible birds, spring is returning (although the white that still covers the ground slightly counters that thought – but it is melting :). I walk down our dirt road, breathing in the peace of nature’s return with my need to feel my feet on the ground. I consciously clear from my head the headlines, images and macro challenges that too often fill our news feeds and in boxes. In these few minutes of conscious shift, science is demonstrating that we can also shift our own hormone secretion, bringing in more oxytocin (a connector hormone) and reducing cortisol (our secondary flight or flight hormone). This is good for our brains and even better for our organs as cortisol further exhausts our systems (no wonder auto immune disorders are spiking. Our systems are depleted). I’ve also begun to read the Good News Channel and have its alerts bring a smile when they pop up on my phone (had to laugh yesterday at the moose that walked into an Alaska hospital). Yes, there are incredible challenges in our world AND there are many incredible, powerful, innovative, heart-soaring things happening every day too. How we choose to see (from spring’s return to our news feed changes how we show up). For example, violent crime in the United States is half of what it was when my children were born, yet coverage is up multi-fold in our 24/7 news cycle (even outside of the horrific epidemic of mass shootings). And studies continue to show that this increased coverage and consumption is not good for our mental, emotional or physical health – and doesn’t help us develop better solutions. It can both polarize and shut us down, making us feel almost catatonic. And the great thing is that we have the power to take back our ability to build our creative, inspiring, oxytocin-based, good energy fueled mindset. Walk in the woods this week-end, buy a plant, kindly look into someone’s eyes with appreciation, watch the returning birds, find inspiring things to read, be discretionary in what comes into your purview. Breathe deeply from your feet to your crown and again and again. We are powerful. We are whole. We are love. And together, from a place of creativity and connection (with self, others and nature) we will find our path forward with strength, courage and compassion. We are community. Happy Spring and wishing you a beautiful week-end, Sandy