We’re coming to the end of September. Three more months and it’ll be Christmas. And 2021. Oh boy.
So, it’s that time of the year again - planning for 2021. But this time it’s different. The grand ambitious 2020 plan we painstakingly put together the same time last year got thrown out the window pretty quickly as we entered 2020. It seems the world had a different plan for all of us.
The biggest lesson for 2020
The biggest lesson I learnt this year:
If you think you know exactly what is best for you, think again.
If you think you know exactly what is best for your customers, people and organisation, think again.
This year has indeed been a grand and ambitious year. Albeit not according to your plan. This year, we experienced being agile. We experienced dealing with uncertainty. Things got real… fast. We experienced being adaptable to the situation that was changing around us every day. We experienced overriding corporate policies that are no longer useful. We experienced going through a crucible moment together. This year, we didn’t study it, or wish it, or pontificate about it. It wasn’t an academic or intellectual exercise. This year, we actually did it.
This year, we didn’t study it, or wish it, or pontificate about it. It wasn’t an academic or intellectual exercise. This year, we actually did it.
Being open to whatever presents itself
In our language, this is the experience of Open Mind, Open Heart, Open Will.
It takes great courage to be open to whatever presents itself. It puts us in contact with reality, and such contact is genuine, fresh and raw. It also requires courage because it can take you to both intensely rewarding AND intensely uncomfortable places.
Do you move forwards or backwards?
The experience has not easy. It has been a very difficult time for most of us. For some, it’s been traumatic. It’s the greatest kindness we can give to ourselves and others to acknowledge the difficulty.
It also helps if we believe that this suffering has meaning. That all those experiences has a purpose. For many, that purpose may not be immediately evident. It may only reveal its true purpose in the years to come. You’ll look back at this year and say, “Wow, 2020 was the watershed.” The beauty of hindsight wisdom.
Wow, 2020 was the watershed. The beauty of hindsight wisdom.
For some, the clarity of purpose is already starting to emerge now. Things are changing, and you sense being called to a different path. At this stage, it’s just an intuition, a “feeling”. You may not have the words for it yet. And that’s perfectly normal. That’s how intuition works - it takes its time. But you can gain more clarity by paying attention to it. If you like to connect with it, you can try taking this 7-day challenge.
7-day challenge: Connecting with your purpose
Each day, spend 5 minutes journaling about your experience in 2020.
Here are some questions to start you off. Come back to the same questions every day. You may be surprised that your responses change. And if your responses don’t change, that’s data, too, it’s validation. There are no right or wrong answers. Be silly. Be serious. Be good. Be naughty. Write everything down. Don’t judge your responses. Keeping in mind what I learnt from this year, “If you think you know what is best for you, think again.” So at this stage, defer judgement, think again, go for quantity. Go with your gut. Go with your head. Go with your heart. Go with your feet. Kick-off your shoes. Be comfortable. Allow yourself to relax, do nothing, just daydream.
What’s the main experience here?
What’s the main emotion here?
What’s the intended positive outcome of this experience? What good thing comes from having this experience?
What’s the belief here?
What is becoming obvious to you?
On the 7th day, share your insights with someone close to you. It could be your spouse, your best friend, your boss, a close colleague, even your pet. Tell them how 2020 has been a transformational year for you, what you’ve learned, what’s emerging for you, and that they are part of the journey with you.
Is coaching going to work for you?
Some of you may be expecting significant changes or particular circumstances that will require external expertise like coaching. You can be on the front foot by seeking coaching before they happen. That way, as the situation evolves, you are ready to engage with the situation and find an outcome that benefits you.
We’ll love to support you on that journey. We offer a range of leadership coaching and leadership branding services. You can read more about it here.
If you like reading more about leadership and change, join our newsletter, stay inspired here.
PERSONNA is a leadership development company focused on the people side of transformation. We hold a simple belief that everyone is an extraordinary force for positive change, and our solutions should be as unique and agile as you and your business challenges. We’re here to help people become better leaders, build highly-effective teams, and create a culture of trust & collaboration in their organisations. We provide leadership branding, leadership coaching and group experiences. If you are curious to learn more drop us an email to hello@personna.me.