empowerment

The power of support

c/o @GregorPurdy

Many people still distrust counsellors, therapists, or other support professionals, and as a result, become too numb to resist the weight of their struggles. However, working with a coach can be transformative. After working with me for three, six, or twelve months, my clients develop a deep understanding of themselves, learn to trust their instincts, and to feel secure in their own decisions.

I think when guiding leaders, the aim is always to empower them to think independently and act on their own behalf, ultimately making the coach’s role unnecessary. Through this process, clients come to recognise and harness the remarkable strength that lies within them.

““I have never learned anything from talking. I only learn things by asking questions.””
— Lou Holtz

Teach them how to fish

Human beings are more likely to commit to and remain loyal to decisions they make for themselves, rather than following instructions imposed by others about what they should do, think, or feel. That's why I don’t give my clients advice, I prefer to metaphorically teach them how to fish, rather than simply handing them a fish dinner. True empowerment comes not from showcasing my own intelligence, but from leveraging my curiosity to deeply explore their challenges.

““Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.””
— Unknown

Leadership is about

The single most important characteristic of a leader that people will willingly follow is honesty.  Leadership must live these values as no one likes being tricked by a business or, within a business, by its leaders. Ensure that your company is purpose as well as commercially driven. We need to make more of an effort to showcase successful leaders who build great companies based on honesty, fairness, respect, and generosity.

Leadership is NOT about:
Authority
Egocentric
Fame
Greed
Position
Power
Title

Wisdom on Wednesday

I think motivation is the driver of productivity, and empowerment is the fuel of motivation. It’s far more motivating to work in an organisation that is passionate about innovation than one that is sterile and stuck in, “We have always done it that way.”

“Many people take action as a result of their passion, instead of being passionate as a result of their actions. Using passion (an emotional and subjective foundation) as the impetus for action can often bring disappointment when the desired result is not achieved. However, taking decisive action using empirical data, can increase the possibility of success and therefore feed your passion.”
— Safi A. Thomas