Taking Space

By Jo Kennedy

 It’s the summer, I am not on holiday, instead I am doing what I am constantly advising my clients to do, taking the space. I am getting up half an hour later, and I feel well on it. In the mornings instead of tending to my emails I am starting off with what I want to focus on. I have found time to be human and relate, sitting out in the sunshine having a lunch break with my daughters.  I am developing, responding to an invitation to a course by listening to podcast by the speaker @stevehearsum, reminding me to be watchful of the need I, as a consultant, have to be right. I will be buying the book but not the course. And creating, looking back through all our old leadership materials, to see what is still relevant to the times we live in, for a new course which we are putting together with @francescapagni.

Turns out it makes a difference to others too. Yesterday, in a meeting with a colleague, I found myself focusing on what would be truly transformational for a system we are working in, and sketching out ideas for how we could explore that with the team, rather than just fulfilling the brief we have been given. My colleague was surprised and excited.

And I have more time to think about when I need to lean in and when I don’t. A difficult meeting last week stayed with me. I had felt frustrated, expressed myself and heard my words being taking more personally than I intended. Sitting with it for a few days, meant that I was able to create an opportunity to re-engage and explain myself more clearly.  Generally I have found myself listening better to colleagues’ concerns, being more open to different points of view, not coming to a judgement myself and being free of that gnawing anxiety that I generally experience in my chest, when I feel like I have to do something to make it right.

Thanks @MeganReitz for helping me to define the benefits of spaciousness – at work. Now my challenge is to build into every season.