You are the go-to resource for lots of folks, aren’t you? You always seem to have the right perspective, the right answer, the right choice of words to help people become unstuck. However, at times, being placed in that position leaves you in a lonely place.
Who or what is your own go-to? If you currently do not have the “right” answer to my question, take the time to ask it.
When you have a “who” or a “what” as your go-to, you create a personal and professional oasis.
These are the individuals, authors, bloggers, poets, and true thinkers whose books, articles, and posts sing to your soul. Their thoughts, words, and how they combine and recombine ideas catalyze you to move forward, rather than remain stuck.
Often, you open up a book of theirs, and read the words on a randomly selected page. And, somehow, at that point in space and time, what you read is just what you really need to be reading. Their ideas, thoughts, and words make you think about the same things, only differently. Instead of feeling frustrated, you are inspired to move one millimeter beyond what is giving you reason for professional pause.
Without having a “who” or “what” as your go-to, you create endless monologues inside your head space.
As a result, you – and only you – become your own go-to. Consider that what you think and what you have to say to the world languishes within that monologue. Also consider that you end up hashing and rehashing issues which may be of your own creation. Another individual’s perspective, as your “who”, tempers the direction you take your internalized conversations. A different author’s or expert’s “what” balances your perspectives if you are tempted to skew them in one direction or another.
Today, ask yourself whether you have a “who” or a “what” as your go-to. Then locate them and reach out to them. These resources are your True North, even as people rely on you to be their own go-to resources.
Catalyzing you to be ahead of what is new, next, and changing. | Professional Innovation | Cross Functional Leadership | Complex Problem Solving | Speaker, Consultant, Mentor |
How do you become more professionally visible, cross-functionally relevant, and strategically valuable as the problems you solve become more complex? Babette Ten Haken’s One Millimeter Mindset ™ speaking, consulting, and mentoring programs catalyze people who solve problems differently to collaborate more innovatively to create innovative and robust business outcomes together. Regardless of whether you are a traditional thinker or a more creative one, use her 3 Core Questions, 4 Change Agreements, and 5 Professional Whys so everyone gets to where they really need to go, together.
Babette is a business-oriented STEM professional, qualitative Voice of the Customer facilitator, PMI-certified Wicked Problem Solver, Duke Corporate Education licensed Strategic Agility practitioner, and Six Sigma Green Belt (Quality). She is a member of SHRM, PMI, the National Speakers Association (NSA). Her playbook of cross-functional collaboration, Do YOU Mean Business? is available in digital format on Amazon.com. Contact Babette here. Image source: Adobe Stock.
Hi Babette, a very interesting perspective! I seem to have fewer of these people in my life as I’ve gotten older and many are no longer with us but it reminds me to find new ones, especially younger ones 🙂 Thank you for this reminder. They do help us grow and look ahead!
Glad this post resounded with you, Lisa. Expanding who and what we look for and listen to, across job titles, pay grades, educational experiences, and generations, for starters, truly enriches our mindsets together. Take good care. ~ Babette