Manila, 26 August 2020 —  Are you satisfied with the story you see?

My Dad’s Curiosity

It happened during a family dinner, when my Dad told us a story from the days he studied naval engineering at the Technical University in Delft. He shared how he experienced an Aha! moment during a visit to the cinema. 

Why, he suddenly wondered, was everyone looking at the screen and no one at the projector and the operator? Didn’t they realize that the object of their undivided attention was a mere projection, an illusion as it were?

My Dad’s curiosity about life rubbed off on me and my brothers. It prompted me to examine the realities I perceived in my life and work through as many perspectives as I could find. I am still in the habit of doing that today.

Over time, I also learned about blindspots, how we all have them, and that we are prone to projecting some unconsciously disowned parts of our personality onto other people. Projections can be like shadows.

These days, I am reminded of blindspots when I give myself haircuts during the lockdowns. In the mirror, I can see most of what needs trimming, yet the parts at the back of my head remain tricky to see and get to.

Keys for Leaders

For leaders who want to influence positive change in their workplaces, the challenge of uncovering blindspots and seeing behind projections is critical.

Gaining a better awareness and understanding of yourself, what is really going on in the situations you are in, and the emerging trends in the world around you, are keys to your success.

Our quest as leaders calls us to question what we see and and expand our vision to look behind the projection, behind the story we see at first sight.

In my experience as a leadership coach, what I hear is that creating daily and weekly reflection routines are among the hardest and the most valuable practices on the leadership development journey of my clients, together with the practice of seeking and giving feedback.

There is, however, a shortcut I discovered to making this process a bit easier as well as faster and more fun. It is your decision to share your leadership development journey with others. To travel together on that road, and to collaborate in the necessary practices. 

Traveling Together

As you clarify where you want to go next on your leadership journey, why not think of who you want to bring along with you? You won’t regret your decision to make it a collaborative effort. 

My own experience in my work as a leadership coach is similar. Even though I am introvert who grew up liking to do things by myself, I have grown to appreciate and love the benefits of collaboration with partners in designing and conducting programs. That has become a part of my transformation as a leader.

In one of those programs, my colleague Andre Taylor likes to remind participants that growing your leadership is a marathon rather than a sprint. For a longer trip, you will be better off traveling with others and building your support network as you go.

The prospect of learning and practicing leadership together is also what led me to start an international community of leaders designed around a challenge to Collab-orate. You can find out more about the #Grow3Leaders Challenge here.

Don’t believe everything you see projected on screen. Go check for yourself what is real.