How do you measure how successful you are? What is it that allows you to say "My life is a success". Or "this project was a success".
In the Olympics, the measure of success is time and distance. We celebrate and applaud those who run the fastest, throw the furthest, pick up the heaviest, jump the longest. And that's about it.
In business, we celebrate and applaud the bottom line, the ROI, the share price. And again, that's about it.
We often define success with a number. If someone is keen to tell you how successful they are, they normally slip in a number - the deal is worth a million dollars, the business now employs 1000 people, the event took 2 hours 57 minutes.
Are we a little stuck in celebrating and applauding only what we can measure? And if so, so what? Why do I bring this up?
My clients are often anxious about whether they are succeeding, making a success of their work. And when I ask what they understand by success, they obsess about growth, scale, a number to reach, a target to achieve. And this narrow notion of success can lead to severe de-motivation, hopelessness and depression.
When we start to explore a broader definition of success, things start to shift. We start to take into account the intangibles, the things that matter in our lives but are difficult to measure - are you healthy, inspired, having fun, are your team positive, engaged, committed, is your organization being authentic to its values, are you having a positive impact on your customers and community. Are you operating in a sustainable way for all stakeholders?
Through this exploration, we rediscover what we've always known - that success is not out there as some truth but what we decide it to be, measurable or not. And this re-discovered perspective has an ability to temper our destructive self critic allowing us to see that success is not something awarded from the outside but awarded to ourselves.
The professor who wins a Nobel Peace prize but loses his family in the process is this success? The cyclist that wins the Tour de France but loses his reputation is this success? Who is doing the judging?
Something Practical
For something practical, here are three fundamental questions:
1. what makes your work a success?
2. when can you say "I have had a successful life"?
3. what happens when your definition of success is not aligned with those around you?
Something New
We are now launching our 2013 Open Programme - Time for Change. It starts in January 2013. There are 8 places available. So if you are interested in more details, please visit our web site or contact us at energy@becauseitsthere.net as soon as possible.
The programme is made up of two parallel learning processes - a one-to-one coaching engagement combined with a shared learning experience - which concludes with a Cycle Tour of Mt Blanc.
The one-to-one executive coaching process involves 2 x 1-hour coaching session per month.
The learning experience involves preparing for and going on a Cycle Tour of Mt Blanc. On the basic level, it is a vehicle for expanding your physical capacity and energy levels. On a deeper level, it allows you to see how you are - in body, emotion and mind. It serves to hold up a mirror on how you walk through life.
The one question we will ask you when you sign up for this programmes is - how will you know if this coaching engagement has been a success? And I look forward to hearing your answers.
Take care.
