What we’re thinking
What’s on your tablet of stone?
As far as I’m aware, the tabloid search for the ‘Ed stone’ continues. Last reported to be in a lock-up garage somewhere in London. Not a great return on the reported £30k investment (surely not?) by the Labour party in the final days of the recent UK election campaign. Etching into stone six Labour commitments didn’t inspire enough support from the electorate but, for all the criticism and areas for improvement, I think it offers us a good challenge to consider.
What are the six commitments I would etch into stone and place in my version of the 10 Downing Street ‘rose garden’ to periodically review? And share with others to review too?
Whether we are running for an election, leading a business, a team, a family. Whether we’re a CEO, director, teacher, parent, partner, aunt, uncle, son, daughter, friend. Whoever we are and whatever we do.
If this role is important to me, what do I stand for? What do I want to achieve? What’s in my ‘manifesto’?
In our leadership programmes we often explore live business challenges facing the team. Challenges that they are grappling with in the moment. And when we delve down into what we want to achieve with a particular programme, plan, activity the answer is often unclear and rarely unified. And sometimes it’s not easy to reach agreement on what a successful outcome really would be. And what we want to hold ourselves accountable for. Hence the more ‘wishy-washy’ words that the Labour leadership team were criticised for. It becomes difficult to engage ourselves and the people around us in ‘wishy-washy’. Our own commitment is low, let alone that of others.
Achieving clarity on what’s of most importance to me – my core values, and how I bring them alive through the way I live my life – my behaviours and actions – is a core topic in coaching conversations with our clients. I may say that ‘adventure’ is a core value for me – exploring new places, trying new things, moving out of my comfort zone. But what does that look like today? Tomorrow? This week? I find it helpful to explore these ideas with my coach and to challenge myself on the extent to which I’m turning words into actions. And do the same with my coaching clients. I like Marshall Goldsmith’s story – leadership coach and author extraordinaire – of how he distils down his intentions into a daily spreadsheet and talks them through with someone to help crystallise his goals and accountabilities. He has 32 questions!
So, as the search for the Ed Stone goes on, I would invite you to join me in looking ahead to your next month. What are your core values that you want to turn from words into action? What does that mean for how you approach the coming days. Which aspects of who you are will you bring alive more fully? What are the 6 commitments you would like to be clear about and hold yourself accountable for? And who will you share those commitments with to help you along the way?
We wish you well and would love to hear your stories!
Andrew Bidnell is a professional certified coach and an experienced consultant who founded InsideOut Consulting in 2006. The focus is on leadership and communication and, in particular, the challenge of engagement – of self and of others – to achieve maximum impact and fulfillment. He has worked internationally with 1,000+ leaders in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, always seeking to facilitate, challenge, support and unlock potential that lies inside an individual, a community, an organisation, and bring that strength, passion and knowledge out for maximum impact.