What’s your Achilles heel that gets in the way of you leading?
Here’s what I’m noticing this week…
We live in a world of information overload – right? – and it’s easy to get sucked into thinking that the more we know, the more we’ll become better leaders. As if by simply reading or listening to ‘the best 5 tools’ will translate to new behavior.
Information doesn’t equal transformation. Just because you might have a new tool in your kit, by no means will it extinguish you humanness. Your humanness can show up in the form of your Achilles Heel.
SO WHAT TO DO
If you really want to up your game in how you show up and lead, start by getting clear on what your Achilles Heel is. And rather than trying to banish that part of you, build a relationship with it. I’m learning loads about the IFS model, and really subscribe to the idea that all of our parts are welcome (e.g. the anxiousness, the judgment etc) and we learn to build relationships with these parts, we experience so much more confidence and self-trust.
Here are some of the most common ways I see my people getting in their own way of leading. In other words, their Achilles Heel:
Self-doubt
Choosing comfort over discomfort
Trying to get it right, which creates analysis paralysis
Too many priorities
Working on what’s urgent instead of what’s important
Not asking for help
Once you’ve identified it, have a conversation with that part of you and find out what it needs you to know. Now, this can be a 2-minute conversation.
IT LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS…
*My Achilles Heel is trying to get it right, so I might say to my ‘trying to get it right part’….
SG: “Trying to Get it Right – I see you. What do you want me to know?”
Trying to Get it Right: “I’m worried that if you get it wrong, you’ll feel stupid.”
SG: “I see you wanting to protect me. Thank you for that, AND, just because I might not get something right, doesn’t mean I’m stupid. I can always course correct. I’m committed to putting myself out there instead of playing it safe. I’m going to need you to step to the side while I be brave.”
Each time I talk TO the part that’s feeling triggered and trying to get my attention, I feel myself re-centered and ready to rock.
These parts of us that get in the way of us showing up and being who we’re meant to be, don’t have to derail us. They can actually help us.
If you try this exercise on, let me know how it goes. This is something you can do on the fly and be a quick exercise, but hugely profound. We owe it to ourselves first and foremost to show up as the brightest and fullest version of ourselves.
Much love,