Moving into the Unknown
Today’s article is very personal, as I reflect on my journey since 2003 and my current dilemma of choosing ‘what work now?’
The value of a pause
Last week I participated in an interview with a coach based in Europe about my work as a coach and facilitator in the fields of climate and ecological emergency.
When asked about how I started in my particular line of work, I was reflecting on the epiphany I had back in 2003 (which some of you may be aware of) - that humanity was on a trajectory to possible self-destruction, which prompted me to ask myself:
“What do I need to learn and how do I need to change my business to earn a living and contribute to solutions rather than problems?”
As I was answering the questions for the interview, I paused and realised for the first time that I have succeeded in finding some answers to that question.
These answers have emerged sporadically over the past 20-odd years as I’ve travelled around the world to work with experts and groups involved in the sort of work I wanted to be doing. I started a PhD in 2009 and wondered how I could do that part-time and still earn sufficient living to keep everything working. Somehow it worked out.
I never give myself much credit (it’s always a hard thing to do), but I am going to own a bit of it today.
The interviewer went on to ask what obstacles I faced along the way. I found three coming to mind and I think they are obstacles for many of us today.
Moving into the unknown
1. Being ignored
The first, as well as probably the most common (and frustrating!) problem that I faced as I started this work was just being ignored. When I started my work in systems thinking and complexity, it simply wasn’t ‘in vogue’ as far as the world of coaching was concerned. It seemed like everywhere I turned there was another door being politely but firmly shut in my face.
Even now, the work that my doctoral studies contribute to – organisations becoming sustainable and sustaining – is ‘out of vogue’! It challenges the ruling power structures and single measure of success, profit.
2. I Didn’t Know How
Not knowing how to do the work I wanted to do, or what my business would look like when I was ‘there’ meant that I was working into a great unknown.
Learning is one of my core strengths, but it is also a pain in the butt! Learning often involves a lot of failing along the way, which can leave one full of doubt. But now and again, there are glimmers of what works. As you learn more about what works and what doesn’t, your capability and resilience grow. That can also grow a sense of confidence to try something new again – too learn. “Hey, I lived through being wrong before!”
Some principles emerged from my learnings:
1. Act with integrity – live what I preach
2. Don’t bet the farm – try things out in small doses
3. Orientate using my values and vision of the possibility I envisioned.
4. Accept that the path is not straight
5. Find other like-minded souls – “hold hands crossing the road” just like they taught me in kindy
3. The Need to Earn a Living
Learning to live in essentially two worlds is not something I will grizzle about, as many other people have had to struggle much more than me with the same dilemma.
But I was starting to see the possibility of a different world where we live and work differently. Going against the grain is hard work though. I could see (and still can see) a host of organisations that are unintentionally damaging the possibility of this different world coming into being.
I needed to figure out how to add value to clients and earn a living while limiting the damage done. I had to learn how to influence and where.
I started screening and selecting clients carefully. I had to do more learning as I shifted from executive coaching in blue chip multinationals to working in different types of organisations like local councils. Here, I found people who cared at the intersection of three large systems, economic development, community development, and sustainability.
I had to learn how to introduce new concepts to people and make them relevant. I had to learn about new sectors and ways people worked, and what was important to them. I had to learn to reshape the services my business offered.
I did learn!
The Precursor to all this learning?
Recognising that something needs to change and that I cared about it! I saw myself as a part of the system that I was operating within and realised that if I was a part of it, I could influence it.
What lessons can you take from my journey of learning to work in the unknown?
Of not knowing but doing it anyway.
Of feeling doubt and vulnerability and doing it anyway.
Of finding a tribe or soul mate with whom to share the journey.
Of coming alive in the truest sense of the word because you are living your own life and learning!
If you would like to explore these ideas as a part of your organisation or leadership journey as the world becomes increasingly uncertain, volatile and complex – give me a ‘hoy’.
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