There is nothing I love more than seeing the light bulb go off in someone’s eyes during a coaching session. The light bulb is a signal that something connected, something resonated and I am honored getting to watch growth happens right before my eyes.
As leaders, of our own lives and leaders to each other, we get the opportunity to witness growth and transformation before our eyes everyday. Leadership and coaching others to achieve their best life is a passion of mine. I remember my first promotion into management. I was so excited. I thought to myself that I could transition into the role seamlessly and implement all of the wonderful things I had read in books, combined with my own personal ideas and I would be an amazing leader.
It took me a short six months to fall flat on my face, want to give up and march into my superior’s office to tell her that hiring me was a mistake. I am thankful that she didn’t blink an eye to my request and responded abruptly with these words, “you are not quitting. If I didn’t think you were capable of doing the job, I wouldn’t have hired you. You are going to dig in, figure it out and get it done.”
As I wiped my tears, I drug myself back out to be with the team that I had told myself in my mind, I couldn’t and didn’t know how to lead. I followed her words of wisdom and dug in, I sat with my people, I focused on understanding their needs, I listened, I coached, I focused on their growth as the root driver to potentially achieve outcomes. As I removed myself from the equation of guiding the growth of other human beings, something miraculous happened. The miracle that occurred right before my eyes was my team’s interest in following me as their leader. Since this experience, I have learned how to live and embody the concept of servant leadership.
The 3 expectations I live by to ensure I am providing the best possible experience for those who choose to follow me are:
1. It is not about you, it is about the people you serve, their success is your success.
2. Be the leader you would follow. Live the message you expect of others. Model the actions and behaviors you want your team to exhibit. A good question to help you determine if you are on track with your actions and behaviors is to ask yourself, “would you follow you?”
3. A strong leader is a strong developer of talent. Be in the coaching session with the individual. Meet them in their mind where they are in the moment. It is not about where you want them to get to, this is their journey. How do you serve as an individual’s tour guide on their journey to growth?
The mission and sign of a strong servant leader is to have an impact on the way people relate to the human experience through our feelings, actions and behaviors. Leadership, coaching and support are ideal to play an active role in the growth and development of others to believe they can identify and achieve their individual purpose by facilitating the validation in each person that they matter.
Jodi is a sought out mentor, coach, facilitator and speaker. She has been recognized for her authorship in her weekly blog, The Journey, Daily Guidephrase on Twitter and her work for developing future leaders in the business and education sectors. Jodi’s mission is to have an impact on the way people relate to the human experience through our feelings, actions and behaviors. Jodi’s vision is to play an active role in the growth and development of others to believe they can identify and achieve their individual purpose and to facilitate the validation in each person that they matter. Jodi’s leadership philosophy is to be the leader you would follow in work and life. Visit her site www.jodiashbrook.com or twitter @jodiashbrook
