I recently attended a presentation given by another executive coach and gleaned two interesting observations. See what you learn from this.
Question to the audience: How many of you have worked with an executive coach?
Out of 40 plus attendees only two hands raised, mine and one other.
The presentation proceeded focusing on the topic of life and balance. Then the next question came: Think about a time recently when you have felt powerful.
A few quiet moments passed before the speaker asked for those in the room to share their powerful experience. Three brave souls shared their stories with our group.
While powerful and purposeful the stories were, not a one of them was about the person’s work or occupation. Here is what I wrote on my note pad, “None were @ work!”
You can tell I was astounded, truly astounded. Not that outside activities can’t have a level of importance, power and purpose. But simply that none of the three related to work.
This speaks to something that is missing in many of our workplaces and that is purpose. When you can look back on a day or week worth of work and say I contributed to something that made an impact, power finds its way into your life. Not the egotistical, win at all costs type of power but the powerful feeling that comes from saying I contributed; I made something or someone’s life better through my efforts. If we could all find that type of powerful fulfillment in our workplace, how much more could we contribute? How much more could we accomplish?
And I wonder, might the stories have been different if the people in the room had the opportunity to define and develop that purpose by working with an executive coach?
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