While there are many pressing matters in front of all of us during this time of a global pandemic, things that rightly demand our attention and action (or inaction) and can be true matters of life or death, there is also an invitation to begin to think about what will emerge when restrictions about how and where we move are lifted. This invitation is not just about what we’ll do, but also who we’ll be.
And, it’s who we will be as individuals and who we will be together, as a community. An uninvited moment has presented itself, and inside of the pain, the uncertainty and the urgency I encourage you to find a calm and quiet place where you can pause and listen to your deepest voice. The one that names your desires, your fears, and your dreams. If there were ever a time to take time for this practice, it’s now. What do you hear? How can that inform not just what you do next, but how you do it, with whom, and to what purpose?
Since the quarantine began, I’ve been working with my clients – leaders who are doing extraordinary work even on ordinary days, and have stepped up beautifully in this moment – to be curious. About themselves, their teams, their companies and industries, and the world. To identify what is essential about their work and their identity, what they might eliminate in the post-COVID moment, and what could emerge? The elements include, but are not limited to culture and values; strategies; products and services; roles and responsibilities; relationships; narratives and internal monologues; practices and habits; and ways of communicating, leading, and loving.
A new world can and should emerge from this crisis, and how we evolve as individuals and entities will shape the years ahead. There are many things outside of our control, but there remain significant areas where we have dominion – our thoughts, words, and actions. What do we want our legacy to be? When we reflect on who and how we were in this moment, what story will we want told? Are we living and leading from a place of fear or measured hope? Are we being vulnerable, honest, and asking good questions about what is possible? Are we willing to risk imperfection for the sake of growth? MY hope is that we can all work towards answering in the affirmative.
Doing so takes courage. And so, it’s worth remembering that the word courage comes from the French word, Coeur, for heart. It’s pretty clear, therefore, where we begin!
