October 6, 2017
Clear Confident Leader Weekly Observer, Issue #53
From the Greenbelt of Boise, Idaho, Bright Red and Yellow Leaves
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns, in order to look at things in a different way.
– Edward de Bono
There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.
– Brene Brown
Maturing is a process of becoming less impulsive, less reactive, more creative and more centered.
– Deepak Chopra
I was deep in thought writing a proposal to a client, when our miniature poodle burst out barking at children playing in front of our house. Wrenched from the flow, I reacted with frustration and anger. I fought to control things in my drive to finish what I was doing.
I was missing the opportunity to use the moment creatively.
We all have reactive tendencies reflecting beliefs, assumptions and conditioned responses that limit our effectiveness. By learning to shift limiting impulses in the heat of the moment to creative responses, we evolve our conscious practice of leadership.
When I interpreted the barking as a “threat”, I reacted to control and protect. By shifting my perception to see it as an opening to stand up, move around and reflect, many creative insights arose. Consider, how often do we perceive threats vs. creative opportunities?
I’d lost track of what was going on around me, and so committed to what I was doing I didn’t creatively respond. While the situation with my dog is minor, when it happens with my family or teams, groups and organizations I work with, the impact is significant.
To be effective leaders, we need to break out of our reactive tendencies, and become more creative and centered. It requires innovation and creativity within ourselves, and accepting failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. Here are some questions that help me:
I assist people to evolve their conscious practice of leadership for themselves and their teams, groups and organizations. Learn more.
Let’s cultivate our leadership capacity to create a better future today!
Clear Confident Leader Weekly Observer, Issue #53
From the Greenbelt of Boise, Idaho, Bright Red and Yellow Leaves
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns, in order to look at things in a different way.
– Edward de Bono
There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.
– Brene Brown
Maturing is a process of becoming less impulsive, less reactive, more creative and more centered.
– Deepak Chopra
I was deep in thought writing a proposal to a client, when our miniature poodle burst out barking at children playing in front of our house. Wrenched from the flow, I reacted with frustration and anger. I fought to control things in my drive to finish what I was doing.
I was missing the opportunity to use the moment creatively.
We all have reactive tendencies reflecting beliefs, assumptions and conditioned responses that limit our effectiveness. By learning to shift limiting impulses in the heat of the moment to creative responses, we evolve our conscious practice of leadership.
When I interpreted the barking as a “threat”, I reacted to control and protect. By shifting my perception to see it as an opening to stand up, move around and reflect, many creative insights arose. Consider, how often do we perceive threats vs. creative opportunities?
I’d lost track of what was going on around me, and so committed to what I was doing I didn’t creatively respond. While the situation with my dog is minor, when it happens with my family or teams, groups and organizations I work with, the impact is significant.
To be effective leaders, we need to break out of our reactive tendencies, and become more creative and centered. It requires innovation and creativity within ourselves, and accepting failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. Here are some questions that help me:
- How am I reacting to the current situation?
- What could I shift to center myself and create effectively in this moment?
- What am I learning from this experience?
I assist people to evolve their conscious practice of leadership for themselves and their teams, groups and organizations. Learn more.
Let’s cultivate our leadership capacity to create a better future today!