Finding a way to believe that you can...
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford
It's a quote that has served me well and many of my clients well over the years; it comes in useful on the bike too.
But how do you believe that you can?
Here are 3 ways that I have seen work:
1. Remind Yourself of Previous Successes
All too often we forget that we have been successful before, whether a direct example or an analogous situation.
Recognising you have the knowledge, skills & habitual ways of working which can help you achieve is key to giving us a can do attitude; repeated success across differing disciplines also show that we have the resources within and around to achieve. This recently helped a coaching client returning to a leadership position after a few years; they'd forgotten they could.
2. Visualise the Success you Want
At 16, I was a powerlifter and my dad would get me to visualise at school the lifts I would make later that evening in the gym. I would see the lift, I would hear the words I would use when I was successful, I would feel the feelings as I lifted the bar and I would taste the sip of water I would drink upon completion and do you know what? I never failed to lift when I did that.
This approach helped a senior leader 'pitch' to their board when seeking to get the to approve an organisation wide sustainability initiative.
3. Positive affirmations
When you say positive things to yourself an those around you say positive things about you and your chances (when based in truth) this helps tremendously.
Try - "I can do this; I have done this before" or "I am ready and prepared to do this"
Spend time with those who will remind you that "We believe in you, we have seen you do this before; do you remember when..."
In the past year one of my coaching clients acknowledged that they needed to find their leadership tribe & did.
And a bonus
4. Remember 'no one dies' (rarely).
Acknowledging that no one dies if you 'fail' can be a key liberator to success too. Success often takes the taking of risks and if you are so frightened that failure could hurt you, you can stunt your willingness to take risks and close off the opportunities of inventiveness and 'leaps'.
This in many ways is my greatest enabler and works for many of my coaching clients for big jobs, big presentations & cultural changes - recognising how much better, faster, wise etc you will be as a result of trying and how much further you will be by building whats needed for the 'attempt' can liberate the soul.
Knowing this is helpful, but doing it is key and sometimes you need the wisdom of a coach to bring out or help you to embed the belief in yourself.
Stefan
I am an executive coach who specialises in helping good people lead great things; their great things for the betterment of humanity - sounds big and fun - it is.
I'm also an endurance racing cyclist; the racing bit is fledgling.
#executivecoaching #Leadership #purpose
Ps.
Wishing @Stephen_Logan every success in your new principal role this week; I know you can do this - I've seen the success you've had, the capability you bring and there are few that come close when it comes to desire, passion and commitment to succeed.
And @Joe_staunton every success in the Pyrenees this week as well as @Fasttony and @saddlesoresean in the Pancelticrace - you got this
