Something profound happened yesterday, and as is often the case with profound things, small moments of insight have been preparing me for this question I asked myself: What brings you alive? As I sat in the Mindful Leadership Forum hearing familiar themes of compassion, wellbeing, wisdom and authentic connection, Dr Rich Fernandez said this “Do what is most alive for you.”
As I reflected on this, pondering what is most alive for me – I saw with greater clarity what I’ve known for years – it’s the conversations I have that unlock insight. By this I mean deep ‘aha! moments’, epiphanies, profound insights that create change with ease.
1. It’s one-to-one coaching conversations, unlocking clarity and confidence, sharpening vision and emboldening the Difference-Makers I’m coaching. I do a lot more listening than speaking.
2. It’s the conversations I have with audiences of all sizes, where I’m sharing vision of a kind, connecting, compassionate and possibility-fueled world.
Callen McDonnell, Suncorp, at Mindful Leadership Forum 2015
It’s the conversations where insights create an often small but significant shift in thinking, which changes outcomes dramatically. Sometimes it’s a 5 minute conversation with a stranger on a train that shifts energy and perspective.
Over the past 18 months, I “parked” my coaching practice to hone my focus on DO Talk To Strangers, and speaking wherever people are keen to increase their confidence and consciousness to connect with other human beings, for all kinds of beautiful reasons. Because of yesterday’s epiphany that each kind of purposeful conversation, with one or many, is equally enlivening, I can make myself available again for coaching leaders who know they’re called to make a bigger difference.
Leaders need a safe space to discover their strengths, to recover and learn from challenges, and continue to live and lead with courage, conviction and compassion.
The few who I made an exception for, artists, speakers and other change-makers who I’ve been coaching this year, have blown me away with their self-honesty and courage – and the outcomes of living bravely and authentically. They’ve highlighted to me again the value of deep listening, suspending my ideas, opinions and perspectives to allow them to discover their own genius, to let their light shine.
I wrote in my conference journal this insight “Do what is most alive for you. For me it’s Connecting Conversations – the ones that connect people to their passion and unlock their insights, energy, clarity and confidence. The Significant Shift and public speaking.”
The Significant Shift is what I call my initial coaching package. It’s a session that connects you to your passion and unlocks insights, energy, clarity and confidence, followed by agreed upon email/phone support. It literally is a significant shift in thinking, feeling and being. It starts with my Leadership Mindfulness checklist and a free, no strings attached phone or skype consult. Contact me here with “fully alive” in the subject line and I’ll send you the checklist.
If you’d like more info about my speaking, which is going global, find it HERE and let’s chat about inspiring the people in your world.
CONTEMPLATE –
1. How are you living fully and courageously? What are the small decisions you’re making that create positive shifts in your world and those around you?
2. What can you do today to take time for yourself to reflect and refocus on what matters most to you?
I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line here
Here’s to living fully!
Cheering you on,
Love Kerrie
PS. “Seeing someone in their genius brings us alive too.” – Anakha Coman
While this was something that Anakha said in her presentation, it was so descriptive of that very moment – I was so inspired to see Anakha in her genius, being herself, shining her light and bringing her best. I’m enlivened!
Anakha Coman and Kerrie Phipps at Mindful Leadership Forum
