I know. You didn’t land on this blog for a grammar lesson.

And yes, according to the textbooks, “leader” is a noun. So is “leadership”.

But really?

Being a leader today is a lot more than a thing. It’s defined by action – you know, like a verb.

Being a leader today is about action.

Let’s face it, we live in a world of information that supplies us with endless content on how to be a good leader, what skills and competencies we need, endless videos and information. It begs the question, in a world with so much information on how to be a good leader, why do we still struggle?

Coaching is the key.

Coaching helps us learn the awareness moment to moment about what’s going on in the inside, so we can access what we need for it to show up on the outside and help us stay adaptive and agile in this paced world where we all work.

The work of coaching is a process over time that is built on a foundation of awareness in self, expanding choices and learning trust in self. By learning to look inside to access your inner wisdom instead of being derailed by fear and uncertainty and draw on what you know, or what you need to know to move ahead. Coaching gets below the surface and helps us understand how to grow our character and the human skills needed like empathy, collaboration, problem solving, good decision making and being creative.

If leadership is a verb, then moment to moment anyone can be a leader.

Coaching unlocks the verb and sets it in motion.

There are few leadership articles that I read today that don’t talk about the speed of change , the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work and the real challenge for CEOs and those in senior leadership roles to ensure their people have the human skills necessary to compete, to adapt, to innovate.

The global leadership forecast 2018 found that digital transformation and the constant threat of disruption is having a significant impact on leadership at every level.

Uncertainty. Increased work. Decreased time. Pressure to learn more. Pressure to make decisions faster or get left behind.

For some this pace is thrilling and invigorating. There are endless possibilities, challenges and opportunities. For others, the pace and pressure to respond is simply terrifying. No time to think things through, to examine risk, reflect, and ensure a measured and appropriate decision is made before proceeding.

Often the battle between move ahead quickly and slow down and ensure we do the right thing can create conflict and polarization in our teams which kills collaboration, creatively and our ability to execute.  The result? Conflict, decreased engagement, productivity & Innovation.

Enter Leadership Coaching

Coaching creates a personal learning experience that are relevant to the person. The pace of learning and the goals are identified from within the individual and as such, incorporate that person’s realities about change and embracing new technologies. The more you know about yourself, the better you adapt.

Top ways coaching develops leaders in a digital age:

1. Creates psychological safety – keeps people in the learning zone
2. Creates a culture where people seek to understand and listen versus tell
3. Develops trust in self – people try new things and are less worried about blame or getting in trouble
4. Creates open hearted leadership – more connection and engagement to others who are also on a personal learning journey
5. Unlocks creativity – people have more fun together and being playful supports innovation
6. Creates a ripple effect – when people feel safe, confident and creative the spend less time in worry and fear and more on getting things done, being a leader moment to moment, making decisions and executing

As a leader, what advances in the digital age have been the most intimidating to you, professionally? Personally? How have you pushed through the fear to discover new opportunity in the new “thing”? Will you share your story?

Meet Sumo.

The voice in my ear.

I created a model of him with a team of leaders this week. We drew out our inner critics – you know, the pesky inner voice that holds us back from being our true self?

Sumo is a part of me. He used to tell me I wasn’t good enough, or smart enough, that I needed to work harder, that I wasn’t worth it. Today he mostly says things like “who do you think you are?” or “you’re just lucky’.

In the most. sarcastic. voice. ever.

I did some inner work (ok, A LOT of inner work). I learned to hear Sumo differently. Sumo was here to help me. I just needed to see how. He was keeping me safe: be prepared, do your homework, don’t let people hurt you. Stay in your lane. Blend. I got Sumo out of my ear and put him in front of me. I gave him a name. I got see him in a new light. He’s cute. He’s funny. And super over-protective.

When I make friends with my inner critic, I’m not fearful. I take a deep breath and thank Sumo for showing up. I do a an internal ‘circle check’ to access my inner wisdom. I move ahead with strength, aware of the obstacles that lie ahead but trusting in myself. I got this.

Who is your inner critic? Send me a drawing.

As a coach, I always trying to help my clients focused on the journey, not the outcome.

When we focus on the outcome and not the journey, we tend to stand in judgement of ourselves and others – always feeling we are not enough or did something wrong.

Once in a while, even us coaches get caught in the outcome trap. Here is what happened to me recently. I wrote about it on LinkedIn:

New year, new “wait”.

I love my process. LOVE my process (right?).

It’s ALL about the journey.

I have been LOVING my process all year, well all 17 days of it.

And then, it happened.

Didn’t even see it coming.

I’ve been looking for some new motivation. Last summer my husband and I dusted off our road bikes to

‘train’ for one of those fun Gran Fondo events. So, I had cycling on my mind. I could do some training over the winter. This would be fun, great cardio, keep me active, prepare for the next Fondo.

Excitement. Energy. And an inner narrative.

What if I am the WORST cyclist in that class

I own a road bike, YIKES, can’t say I’m a beginner…

Maybe I should train on the stationary a few more weeks

I’ll check with the trainer

Me: Just how “GOOD’ are the cyclists in the class?

Cody: Oh, it’s a mixed group

Me: So, you think I could fit in with them… how INTENSE?

Cody: You just go at your own pace (supportive).

And then he said the magic words. “Jackie, YOU DO YOU”. BAM.

Thanks coach. HELLO inner critic. That sneaky rat. This time at the gym. Unexpectedly.

Recognize it. Take a breath. Balance.

You do you.

Being a coach isn’t always about tools and strategies and techniques. Those are valuable, yes. But sometimes being a coach is just about unbending, unending, nonjudging belief.

I believe in you.

Now.

Right now. And even when you don’t believe in yourself.

You are creative, you are resourceful, and you are whole. You have everything inside of you to achieve all that you want in this life. You have strength in places that maybe you don’t see right now. But you have it. It’s waiting for you to dust it off and engage.

You’ve prepared enough. No amount of preparation will teach you the lessons that you gain through taking the steps you’ve been afraid to take.

Let people see you. Hear you. The world needs you. Even if you trip or if you fall. And you will.

You will have the gift of your breath, and the moment you are in to take another breath. And you will have the choice to get back up. Whatever that means for you. I know you’re doing the best you can.

I stand in curiosity, not judgement of you.

“What’s the question you need to hear that will help you get back up?” I will believe in you until you believe in yourself. And then I will keep believing. You were made for this moment.

You got this.