Sonia Gray, a fellow member of the LinkedIn Group Connect: Professional Women’s Network, asked this question around a month ago. It’s captured the imagination of this diverse community of women and so far it’s generated 885 comments. In fact it’s a wonderful example of social networking at its best. Amongst those 885 comments there are some pearls of wisdom.
Here’s what I posted in response. “Be intentional. Then use the gap between your intention and your actual impact as the best feedback you’ll ever get”. I learned this from my wonderful leaders on the CTI Leadership programme a few years ago. It stays with me.
I use it to learn about myself and to coach others towards creating the impact they want to have – rather than regretting and moaning about the one they created. The moaning is often blaming other people for their reaction, rather than accepting responsibility for their own part in the interaction. So slowly, and often painfully, I’m taking responsibility for my actions and my impact. And as a result I’m clearing up my messes and creating more of what I want.
So what’s your own best advice, either given or received?
August 23, 2012 at 8:16 am
I will have to have a look on Linked as I love hearing pearls of wisdom and I collect inspirational quotes. The best advice I have been given?? Mmmmmmmm I think it would be very simple – SIMPLIFY. I think we often make things more complicated that they need to be. The other would be SLOW DOWN. As with any good advice I do my best to do both, but don’t always succeed.
I can recommend a great book by Lesley Garner, Every thing I’ve ever done that worked.
August 23, 2012 at 8:35 am
I like SIMPLIFY. It’s so easy to end up making things complicated. And I’ve just bought a copy of the book you’re recommending here, despite having agreed a book embargo with myself. 1p second hand on Amazon is so hard to resist.