Winning is not just a word!!!

Words are so seductive...

It is intriguing to me how many people have such an affinity for quotes. People will read them, seek them out and even share them. Equally true is that people will have a tendency to relate to quotes on such a personal level that there can be a sense of sharing themselves when they share the quote.

The words because they have such a personal relationship with the individual can take on a life of their own.

Yet, aside from having an affinity for the same quote will one typically be curious enough to ask "Do they really understand what that quote means for me, do they really understand what it is I am meaning or wanting to share?"

I would say this..."I doubt it!"

Lost in translation...

Context, timing and ones situation will no doubt influence how a quote that is shared by another is interpreted. Allowing ourselves to assume that the reader of the quote will understand is a bit short sighted, much like the conversation that passes comments from one person to the next with a casual "you know what I mean...".

If we never take the time to question what is being said and the intent or to share our understanding of same then how do we ever really know that either party is talking about the same thing...in short "WE DON'T!"

What do you mean?

No, I don't want to hear the quote again, rather I would like to hear what you have to say...

- What are your feelings and thoughts
- What has caused you pick this particular quote
- What has compelled you to share the quote with me

The more a word, a phrase or even a quote is shared the less meaning it will actually have. A point that is often lost to many.

There are no short-cuts to communicating effectively.

Do you care enough?

What would change for you if instead of sharing a quote you took the time to consider what the quote means for you and what it is you want others to understand from the quote. Yes, in YOUR WORDS!

What would change if instead of accepting a quote as a response you actually took the time to ask...

"What about that quote is so important for you?"

Much more than a word...

Winning is one of the most over used words in the English language and perhaps even on a global scale and it is exactly because of it's over use that "winning" has absolutely no meaning. Well, at least in a universal sense.

Does winning mean scoring a goal, completing a marathon, getting out of bed, surviving cancer or being a friend?

The truth is, it probably means all of those things and more depending on the person.

The opportunity...

In this case the opportunity might be to ask "What does winning mean for you?"

This is not an easy question, especially for someone who has never considered it. Even for someone who has considered it, it still be difficult to answer in this moment.

The power of the word does not lie within the word itself, rather it lies in the awareness of the person who is willing to contemplate "what the word means for them".


Inspired by...

This post was inspired by @TheSCICoach to follow and read her tweets click here... and her recent string of tweets on winning.

I love the topic of winning..

- It is rich with opportunity for discovery and growth
- It is rich with meaning

It takes courage and compassion to say "I want to win" and to go for it, especially if you know exactly what it means for YOU!

Still, if you don't ever take the time to consider "What does winning mean for me?" how can you ever really know what you are saying when you say...

"I WANT TO WIN!"

To your success,

James Possible (Mr. Possible)

Remember, possibility is not an accident, it's a choice!

james at coachesbuzz.com

© 2009 James Possible LLC. All rights reserved in all media.

Professional Coaching: A tribe in chaos...

Leading the industry or not?

Recently, as I began to search for details regarding the recent International Coach Federation Global Conference (i.e., ICF Conference) I came to realize how little their community of members shared with the world this coaching industry event.

What does this mean? I'm not sure that I really could say...I just know that it is a great disappointment to see so very little information being shared with the world given that the ICF's core purpose is said to be "To advance the art, science and practice of professional coaching."

Over 15,000 members...

ICF has more than 15,000 members in nearly 90 countries and more than 160 chapters in over 50 countries.

A Tremendous Surprise...

Anyways, back to why I'm creating this post...

As I began to dig around the ICF 2008 Conference page I found and amazing give away. A prize, a gift for my curiosity and desire to find out more, I'll share more in a second. The give away sparked a question in me that I wan't to share those who are professional coaches (i.e., Life Coaches, Executive Coaches, Spiritual Coaches, Personal Coaches, Business Coaches etc.) and looking for a way be a part of the bigger picture, a way to collaborate and play other like minded entrepreneurs.

If you are such a coach here's my question...

In the audio version of the book "Tribal Leadership", by Dan Logan, John King, Halee Fischer-Wright, King talks about stage four organizations and compares the work of George Washington to such. I find myself potentially seeing our community of coaches as an organization in chaos a community locked in stage two or three. A community not eagerly embracing all of it's members and supporting those who are wanting to add their contribution to the mix.

A community without leadership!

How many leaders do we have within the community speaking the language of stage four?

I truly feel Thomas Leonard created a stage four community within coaching. A community eager to collaborate and encourage one another. A community with a voice. Even years after his passing I was able to easily find information relating to coaching, Leonard and Coachville via Google. It was everywhere!

Not only was he prolific, the community he stirred and touched "his tribe" was prolific!

Still, with his passing at least at first glance it seems to me that the tribe that once called Leonard their leader is today fragmented and perhaps even loss or missing the tribe.

Has profit become the voice of current leadership?

Intellectual property a bigger concern than collaboration or even the potential sharing of creative thought.

There are many professional coaches today feeling and dealing with isolation and wanting to be a part of a tribe, a stage four tribe. Still, they may not even realize that is what they are missing.

Can the coaching community once again be joined in a creative and collaborative frenzy of hope and expectation...that is the question?

Without the critical mass of a stage four community the hope changing the world as a whole may not have as much potential or may take so much longer than what some of the few thought leaders are anticipating.

As professional coaches we must find our voice and be willing to share it loudly with the world, no longer is a side conversation at a tea party enough!

Your voice matters and you can start by listening to this audio...

It's time for a change!

James (Mr. Possible)

Possibility is not an accident, it's a choice!