Oh The Places You'll Go!
Worrying and Wondering
“And when you're alone there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
So, what’s the thing that scares you most as a leader?
What’s the thing that worries you in the morning or wakes you with a start?
What makes you so acutely anxious that it is contagious to those around you or that it keeps you from being able to take the next courageous step in your leadership?
For most leaders the biggest challenge isn’t the meeting or plan that went bad in the middle of the day, but what we do with it in our minds in the middle of the night, right?
What makes you wonder if you have what it takes to go on?
If you are reading this in a place where you can pause for a moment, I hope you will do so.
And if you find yourself overwhelmed, let me encourage you to consider these two ideas:
Your worries mean you are human.
You weren’t meant to face your fears alone.
Very often in our work with leaders, there comes a moment when they become so overwhelmed by the daunting nature of the mission that they have taken up or the changes that they are facing that they are tempted to either shut down or self-soothe through distraction or potentially destructive ways. (Anybody else find themselves absentmindedly scrolling through Instagram posts while grabbing another Thin Mint? Oh. Is that just me?)
What we have found is that leaders who have the resilience for leading change have both:
• the capacity for vulnerable self-reflection and
• the safety of really solid relationships.
In Tempered Resilience, I refer to this the “heat” and the “anvil” for becoming a tool that can “hew stones of hope from a mountain of despair” (in Dr. King’s memorable phrase). Indeed, like Dr. King, the most capable people who are continually growing into tempered, resilient leaders are those who learn to face their feelings of vulnerability with the support of partners, mentors, and friends.
At AE Sloan, we aim to provide resources and spark relationships that will enable you to both engage the awful fearful challenges you are facing AND rest in the supportive relationships from others who are in the leadership learning journey.
Some of this you’ll find on our website and in our workshops and courses, but most find that what they most need are supportive relationships that we offer in our groups and through coaching.
Even if you don’t use us as resource, know that we are hoping you’ll find what you need for all the places you’ll go!
