Don’t let perfection stop you from getting stuff done! (Part 1)
“DON'T LET PERFECTION STOP YOU FROM GETTING STUFF DONE”.
This is a line I used a number of times in a recent EQiLead workshop.
EQiLead is an innovative approach to workplace Leading and Learning,
EQ for emotional intelligence
i because it starts with self
Lead - with emotional Intelligence.
The workshops are co-facilitated by horses - actually the horses have the wisdom and do most of the work.
This group was a mixed group and we were exploring the application of the concepts in the workplace, of
Connection
Awareness
You - as an individual, your place in a team and in the broader organisation.
Robby is a site manager working on high end bespoke houses where the work is required to be of the highest standard. He had already drawn analogies of his own workplace during my demonstrations working with Ellie (my horse) of Connection, Awareness and You.
We were starting with the premise of Connection and Awareness as foundations for establishing team. The exercise was to approach Ellie one step at a time with awareness of own presence and impact. The horses are always aware of what is going on around them - they need to for their own safety and opportunity. It is their awareness that we are tapping into - we need to be fully present and focused in attention because the horses reactions can be so subtle, just as ours are unconsciously.
Robby had no previous experience with horses and entered the arena willingly and with curiosity - a vital ingredient in the recipe for learning. He approached gently but initially missed the queues Ellie was giving and she walked away. He tried again and this time she stood. He asked me "can I pat her?".
Great question but who should he be asking? Me or her?
He literally asked Ellie verbally which was a great opportunity for us to discuss assumptions, understanding of language, differences in culture and what might be acceptable. There is a process of discovering what is acceptable to others and we need awareness and curiosity.
Another of my oft quoted sayings "They don't understand our language and we don't understand theirs" but I have changed that now to saying - "They don't understand our language but we can learn more of theirs through our awareness". And that is the role of a leader.
This can happen in the workplace with a new team member - we make assumptions that they understand what we are asking/instructing/explaining. But how aware are we whether they really have understood? If we paid real attention with a soft eye (more on that another time) - maybe that nod is just politeness, or worse, fear of not saying they don’t understand the instruction? What signals are they sending that is or is not in alignment with the nod?
We need to be highly cognisant of their reactions because to be leaderful we need to increase our awareness. We cannot have empathy without awareness and we cannot have connection without empathy. And connection is at the core of everything.
Vicki Macdermid, Partner/Executive Director Pitcher Parthers, Program Director EQiLead, pictured here with two of my greatest teachers, Jolly Old Mac (Macca) & Erin Elegant Isle (Ellie).
Picture by PencilRocket
This article was originally posted on LinkedIn on November 16, 2018.
