What happens when we understand the words but not how to incorporate them into our behavior?
There are words that we use every day, and most of the time, we understand them, at least on a basic level.
But…when it comes to the level of understanding that requires us to incorporate the ideas implicit in those words, we hit a wall.
Most of the time, we keep talking and ignore them because we have no clue what to do next. This makes higher levels of performance harder to attain.
When we tell someone, they need to listen. What happens next?
They nod their heads and maybe try to hear more for a few minutes, then revert to their old pattern because it is well-worn and it is the comfort zone of how they understand, even though it’s holding them back.
They understand the word but NOT the actions- and definitely not the why. Most leaders think others understand what they are asking and know how to make the changes. Right!
It’s a little like the master and the dog in a Far Side cartoon where the master is trying to teach the dog to roll over, repeating it over and over while the dog only hears “blah, blah, blah, blah, Rover, blah, blah.
How do we get to create a new practice of action, then?
This is what Workplace Courage is – the ability to push through the discomfort of all the things in the workplace that feel uncomfortable and that we like to avoid. By learning new skill sets we make it easier for ourselves and others. The attributes that make up the courage and drive leadership include these skill sets that demand personal practice so that, finally, an aha takes place.
These attributes fall into six main categories: Awareness, Listening, Curiosity, Playfulness, Connection, and Appreciation.
If you choose any of them, you might have difficulty thinking about how to practice the skill sets inherent in each one. And, you may be wondering why in the world you would want to create workplace courage.
You should only consider this IF you want higher performance, less attrition, more engagement, and connection.
This isn’t for everyone. It’s for companies that have built a culture that they value and because they are growing, want to make it even better.