How do you feel about leaping into the unknown is a question I often ask of coaching clients when they are facing change. Recently I have been facing up to the same question myself.
The relaxation around the pandemic has slowly seen a return to the delivery of face to face coaching and development programmes. After 12 months of online coaching there has been a strange mix of feelings around being back in a room with a group of leaders. Whenever I launch a new programme there is a sense of anticipation, but at the same time some anxiety about what could happen. With the gap enforced by the pandemic these emotions have been heightened.
I think the photograph encapsulates all the emotions that you can go through when leaping into the unknown. The mix of anticipation and trepidation can be intoxicating. When you land in the water you just want to do it all again!
Dealing with uncertainty is a key skill for leaders in today’s world. The challenge is how do we become comfortable with leaping into the unknown?
A starting point is identifying how often we have faced the unknown in the past and what happened then. When we have managed such situations successfully we need to consider what helped us do so. What strengths do we have which help us when leaping into the unknown? What was the process we followed? Who did we have to provide support and guidance? What would we do differently the next time?
I enjoy the sense the anticipation when launching a new programme and feel energised and focussed. I visualise how well previous programmes have landed and use these memories to build my confidence. We all have our own favoured techniques, what do you use to help when you are leaping into the unknown?
