Leaders, there is absolutely no shame in admitting your weaknesses and asking for help. Just like there is no shame in snorkeling with a pool noodle. It leads to ease.
This past week, my husband and I have had the amazing opportunity to spend a week in Kauai, our first time in Hawaii.
Today we rented snorkeling equipment and headed to a local beach.
I love snorkeling because I love to see the sea life.
I do not love being in water. I love being near or on water, but not in water, as I’m not a strong swimmer.
Enter: the pool noodle.
Years ago on a trip to Costa Rica, we snorkeled in open ocean. I was offered a pool noodle. I set my shame to the side and grabbed the noodle.
It was an awesome experience as I had zero stress about my swimming.
Today I forgot to ask the rental place if they had noodles. We got in the water and it wasn’t long before I was over-exerting, got freaked out, and came up yelling to my husband to help me.
I did make it back into the water—I’m nothing if not tenacious. But I needed to heed the guidance of my husband to not work so hard, to let myself be buoyant. When I did that, I was able to have a magnificent second outing that included swimming with a sea turtle.
I also had the gift of my husband standing in the shallows keeping an eye on me to make sure I was safe, sacrificing his own experience for mine.
And had a pool noodle magically appeared on the beach, I would have happily embraced it with absolutely zero shame.
Because I could have had a much longer adventurous experience with a pool noodle. Zero shame. Far more ease.
As we develop into our full leadership potential, it’s crucial that we embrace the pool noodle.
We need to understand our gaps and weaknesses.
And once we understand those, we need to be comfortable asking for help.
Help in the form of:
- Expert guidance (a mentor)
- Observation and feedback (a 360)
- Exploration of our self-limiting beliefs (a coach)
- Pure support (an awesome team that fills our gaps … aka a pool noodle)
The best leaders I’ve worked with, supported, and coached have done the work to recognize their gaps and ask for help.
The result? They’re better enabled to lead with ease.
Because they recognize there is no shame in the pool noodle. Only ease.
And with ease comes impact. With impact comes results.
But it takes a willingness to get vulnerable, acknowledge your gaps, and ask for help. To ask for the pool noodle.
Are you ready?
Hey there, I’m Cynthia.
- I’m a leadership team whisperer, executive coach, and speaker.
- I guide leadership teams in high-growth companies to achieve rapid growth in a healthy, sustainable way.
- I coach senior leaders to discover the path to lead with ease.
Can I help you on your leadership journey? Contact me.
Learn more about the Compass Team Experience.
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