What is it you really believe – not just what do you say you believe, but what do you live and breathe every day without question? What are your core beliefs?
A similar question was posed to me in a business workshop last February. I was challenged to draft a list of what I really, truly believed about life and my work of coaching. The instructor implored that being clear and upfront about who we are and how we operate offered clients the opportunity to connect with us and our company work at a much more meaningful level, right from the start.
Isn’t it true in all aspects of our lives? Being honest, open and consistent seems like the common-sense way to avoid all the superficial, posturing kind of behaviour that sets up misunderstandings, false expectations and disappointments. It sounds so simple, and yet it was not so easy for me to build this list – my beliefs and actions are so second-nature, it took awhile to tease them out and write them down!
If you are inclined, grab a notepad and pen and carve out some time to make your own list. If you are like me, the simplicity of the exercise will stump you for a bit. My list took several revisions to hone – to really get clear about what is important to me (for me) and how I live that out with my clients. Of course, in making the list, it struck me that this is what uniquely makes me the person I am; I highly doubt any of us would write the exact same list. It’s just food for thought. When are we ever asked to boldly stand up and claim what we believe? How often do any of us reflect on the principles that guide us day to day?
I challenge you to consider it today.
What is it you really believe – not just what do you say you believe, but what do you live and breathe every day without question? What are your core beliefs?