The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes- Marcel Proust
If we are a successful, highly educated leader looking to make a change, do we need to know more, do more, acquire more?
If we are an expert in our field already. If we have achieved what most people would view as success. If we are possessed of doctorates, years of business experience and knowledge of our industry the answer is probably No.
What we need to consider instead is where we are and where we want to be and discover what it is that is preventing us from making that transition. What is keeping us stuck. Armed with that knowledge we can consider how best to put our expertise and experience to use. To move us forward to where we want to be.
The Internal Landscape
This is more about examining, at least initially, our internal landscape than trying to impose change on our external circumstances and environment. What are the assumptions and preconceptions we hold about ourselves, others and situations that thwart our progress? How do these limit the ways in which we interact with the world and limit our own beliefs in ourselves and our potential?
Our brain develops at an incredible rate during our early years. As this occurs and we have our first interactions with our caregivers and the world around us most of our major beliefs are formed and laid down in the neural pathways in our brain. These persist throughout our lives, usually on a subconscious level informing or interfering with everything we do unless we specifically act to change them.
At times this can be the work people do in therapy when they are at a loss in life, but for many it is smaller day to day issues that bring them to an awareness of their limiting beliefs and values and it is at this level that they act to change them. There is no need to dig deep and see where they came from it is sufficient to know they exist and in this awareness to choose to act differently, to move past these limitations in order to succeed.
Jim’s Experience
Jim, an engineer with many years of experience found himself at a standstill in his career. He was frustrated and becoming disillusioned with his job. He was exploring other opportunities but wondered if these would be fulfilling or the same issues would be present. His dissatisfaction at work spilled over into his home life affecting his interactions with his wife and kids.
As we worked together we were able to discover that Jim was the guy the CEO looked to, to fix things. He used his initiative and solved problems. He didn’t push himself forward but consistently did a good job. He had assumed that this would lead to promotion. Instead he watched as other less capable colleagues, those who had been in the job less time advanced beyond him.
There was no reason for the CEO to promote Jim. In fact, he was invested in keeping the guy that solved problems and made the organization look great right where he was. We discussed how Jim grew up in a family where keeping others happy and not causing trouble was important. These actions had created strong neural pathways over many years. As soon as Jim made the connection between these patterns, past and present, he was able to start thinking about solutions. He realized it was his choice to keep acting in this habitual manner and he began to make different choices.
Jim had open conversations with his boss and with other members of management and created new opportunities for himself within the organization. Not only did he advance his career but he used his problem solving abilities to take the organization in a whole new direction.
Did Jim need to attend more training, to read more industry news? No, Jim was an engineer with many years of education and experience. By exploring his internal landscape and recognizing the limitations imposed on him by his life experiences he was able to change the path of his career within the organization and regain much of his enthusiasm for work and life.
It is in this way that we see our situation with fresh eyes and the discovery of new horizons is possible within our own landscape.
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