It seems that the more leadership responsibility one takes on, the more people there are trying to tell them how they “should” do it. Ironically, the greater the leadership role, the less likely we are to WANT any of their opinions.
While, we all know that having mentors, coaches, and trusted advisors is a critical part of leadership, how should such a confidante be selected? And, who else should we listen to?
Being in the leadership development industry, SML Consultive has had the distinct honor of being an integral part of the journey of many leaders. We are proud to have been able to empower many leaders and (even if you do not select SML) we strongly recommend leadership coaching at every level of leadership. There is no substitute for the value of one who has been where you are going and who can provide alternative perspective and experiential wisdom.
But, even with all of our experience and our passion to empower, we understand that the relationship between a leader and their coach is sacred and cannot be forced. We believe that the most effective form of coaching is able to be done when the coach and the coachee are both in agreement regarding the relationship and there is a synergy that exists among them.
So, if you are looking for a #coach or #mentor, what should you do? We recommend asking one simple question:
“Do I want to be where they are?”
If the answer is yes, then it is worth exploring a coaching relationship. If the answer is no, then look elsewhere. It is as simple as that.
Before we close, we have to mention one other aspect of this concept that is a bit less cut-and-dry. The reality is that we can learn from ANYONE. So, when people (who you have not selected as advisors) provide advise, there is wisdom in filtering it through the following:
1. Is this good advise (even if they are not good at living it out)?
2. Does this apply to my situation?
3. Do I want the end result of where this advise would take me?
Using this filter, one can receive advise from any source and then decide whether or not to implement it.
In conclusion, having a mentor is important. But, having the RIGHT mentor is critical. Advise will come from various sources. Taking a moment to identify what advise is good and what isn’t is always wise in our journey of leadership.
If we can serve you or the leadership of your organization, a free consultation may be booked via https://lnkd.in/g9HrmfcQ.
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