NLP Weekly: Power of clarity, importance of compassion, learning from coyotes

NLP Weekly: Making achieving your goals & being a great leader second nature.

March 1, 2024

Performance: Clarity’s Quick Wins 

A common theme in client coaching sessions this week was a gap in the amount of clarity people have in their life and / or work. It’s not so much that people felt they were directionless rather they are operating and trying to “make it to Friday” rather than acting with intention. They’re closer to surviving than thriving.  

Actively bringing intention to how you want to “be” and “show up” each day can have a profound impact on:

• moving you towards your goals,
• experiencing fulfillment,
• bringing the best of yourself to your relationships and interactions with others. 

Which values provide the foundation for how you want to show up each day?  

Pick 1 – 3 values or words that define the best of you are and want to be. Set an alarm in your phone so they pop up at least once each day. 

Check in with yourself when you get that reminder.

How well are you being that person? 

Leadership: Compassion > Empathy 

For 10+ years I rode the "empathy train". I now know I could have done better.

Believe it or not, empathy can lead to burnout.

Compassion provides connection & action to help alleviate what the person you are leading is experiencing.

Your leadership and sustained high performance require you to apply compassion over empathy: 

1. Compassion moves past understanding the experience a person is having to providing meaningful action steps forward with connection.
2. When you re-connect with that individual later, you can follow up on the effectiveness of the action steps & their impact rather than the emotion they were experiencing. 
3. Providing compassion to those you lead (**including yourself**), reduces the emotional load being carried while elevating and sustaining both your performance & leadership. 

Nature: Coyote’s Adaptability  

In the past two weeks, doing the things I normally do every day, I’ve had 22 coyote sightings. One day I saw 8. 

Coyotes are generally misunderstood. The reality is that they are an incredibly intelligent animal with an almost unparalleled adaptability. 

They thrive:

• living in grasslands, forests, mountains, deserts, and even in urban environments.
• as individuals, pairs, or packs (and will pair or pack up during the year then go solo at times).
• devoting themselves to partners and packs. in areas ranging from three to 50 square kilometers.
• varying their litter size based on what the local area can sustain.
• by learning quickly.
• hunting during the day or night. being omnivores.
• by communicating with numerous vocalizations.
• being fast & agile reaching speeds of 65 km/h.

LinkedIn’s 2024 Most In-Demand Skills report put Adaptability at the top of the list.   

So, while it may seem strange at first, how should you be more like a coyote?  

Which would you benefit most from: 

• changing part of your environment?
• performing solo, partnering up, or leaning on a team?
• doubling down on a relationship?
• narrowing or broadening your focus?
• learning something quickly?
• changing part of your schedule?
• diversifying your diet?
• more intentionally communicating?
• executing faster? 

Whichever one you choose; it is sure to have a meaningful impact. 

I'm glad you're here,

Graham Snowfield