Sep 26, 2023 | Leadership, Women Leaders
A former client of mine once told me that she had captured a full list of “Tracy-isms” – things that I had said that stuck with her. (Uh-Oh!)
One of those “isms” that I’ve been thinking about lately is:
“Change breeds opportunity!”
I’m in a season of change right now, and so many of you are as well.
As human beings – and BADA$$ leaders – the status quo gives us comfort. But growth tends not to hang out where there is comfort. Growth is usually smack dab in the middle of change. Groan.
How are you navigating change, BOLD Leader?
It’s a quandary when we’re both experiencing change and being expected to lead through change. And as your BADA$$ leadership coach, I’m here to give you a moment of full acknowledgement of that challenge, then a swift kick in the pants to figure out how to move forward gracefully.
change Tracy J EdmondsSeriously, how do you move forward AND lead gracefully through change?
It’s all about the mindset. Remember, what we believe about ourselves, others, or a situation, creates a direct line of impact to what we do and what we experience.
When it comes to change, shift your mindset from what change is DOING TO YOU to what change is DOING FOR YOU. Let change work FOR YOU. Let change BREED OPPORTUNITY.
When you’re amid change or leading change, here are some questions to answer to find opportunity in the moment:
- What is my greatest fear about this change – as both the leader and someone experiencing it
- How can I address this fear as things change?
- What is different – for me, my work, my leadership, my career, my team, my organization – in this new situation? (Get specific and go deep on this.)
- How can I use this difference to accomplish my and my team’s goals?
- What are the benefits of this change for me, my leadership, my work, my career, my team, my organization?
- How can I make the benefits of this change work for me, my team, my organization?
- What one thing can I do differently in this moment of change to get the most out of it?
Yeah, change sucks. But, by definition, when things change, things are no longer the same. Which means, you have an opportunity to DO something new or different.
You have an opportunity to BE something new or different.
You have an opportunity to LEAD in a new or different way.
YOU can change in those moments. You can shed the old and embrace something new.
To find opportunity, you must change with the change.
Now could be the perfect time to move from BOLD to BADA$$. I’m just saying. Think about it.
BASIC Leaders wait for the change to blow over. Then they spend their time complaining about what has changed. You know these people.
BOLD Leaders learn to go with the flow. They’re agile. They survive.
BADA$$ Leaders change with the change. They ride courage through their fear. They create and seize new opportunities.
Cheers to making change work for you!
PS. I think I just had a breakthrough! Stay tuned!
BE AUTHENTIC.
CHOOSE BOLDLY.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
If you’re challenged by change, let’s hop on an Activation Session where we can get it out of your head and onto paper in 90 minutes. Click here for a consultation to get started.
Sep 12, 2023 | Leadership, Women Leaders
As we continue our BADA$$ Beyoncé Renaissance Leadership tour (see my last newsletter ), where we’re honing a new vision for our leadership and our organizations, I want to talk about bringing a vision to life.
My mom had a lot of “sayings” or idioms that she used at opportune moments to teach lessons. One of the ones she pulled out from time to time was, “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet, Tray!”
Her point?
Something is going to need to “break” – change, be sacrificed, destroyed – to build something new.
This is a powerful lesson when it comes to leadership – and life.
Once you have a vision, the most daunting task can be bringing it to life. So much can get in the way.
Having a clear vision doesn’t guarantee …
- Others see your vision and get onboard with execution.
- Others agree with your vision and support it.
- There are resources readily available to execute the vision.
- There is talent capable of bringing the vision to life.
That’s where “breaking the eggs” comes in. Once you have a vision, what will you do to bring it to life?
Let’s get back to our girl, Beyoncé. The vision was enormous. Think about all the “eggs” that got broken.
- Narrowing down the playlist to fit a 2 ½ -hour concert. Saying “no” to some fan-favorites.
- Selecting only the best-of-the-best dancers. Some were good, but not good enough. Sorry.
- Finding the right clothing designers for the multiple outfit changes that occurred. Not everyone gets to style Beyonce.
- Hours upon hours upon hours of rehearsal.
- Time away from family and home to deliver concerts across the world over several months.
- Steering clear from what she had done in the past and staying true to the new vision.
To bring a vision to life, BADA$$ leaders operate with a mindset of authenticity. That is, evaluate their vision through the lenses of honesty, courage, confidence, and resilience.
Before you go out and start breaking eggs to get SH*T done, ask the following questions to maintain a BADA$$ mindset that creates success.
- What do I honestly need (from myself, others, the organization)to bring this vision to life?
- What is my greatest fear about executing this vision? How will I move forward through this fear?
- What talents, skills, capabilities, and lived experiences (mine and others) will I draw upon to lead the execution of this vision?
- What is the greatest, long-term challenge that I must prepare to navigate over time?
You know it hasn’t been a cakewalk for Beyoncé to pull off this most amazing concert tour. And it won’t be a cakewalk for you either. Your mindset will be your greatest asset in getting it done.
BASIC Leaders don’t even create a vision.
BOLD Leaders create a vision and set out to execute without authentic reflection that prepares them for the journey.
BADA$$ Leaders know that having a vision and a plan are only part of the journey. They are ready to break some eggs and they know, from authentic reflection, the mindset they need to maintain and what they’ll need to bring the vision to life.
Get your mind right. Then go break some eggs.
BE AUTHENTIC.
CHOOSE BOLDLY.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
If you’re having trouble with your leadership vision, let’s hop on an Activation Session where we can get it out of your head and onto paper in 90 minutes. Click here for a consultation to get started.
Aug 30, 2023 | Leadership, Women Leaders
I’m back after a couple of weeks of much needed rest. As leaders, we must take care of ourselves so that we’re in the best position to give our gifts to the world.
And speaking of gifts, I had the opportunity to attend Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour concert while I was on hiatus. Now, I’m a fan, but not a “know-all-the-words-to-every-song” fan. In fact, I’ve only enjoyed Beyoncé on the radio or on social media. But I had to go to this concert. I flew to Atlanta for the weekend for this concert.
Why?
Because I know when talent, vision, and courage align, the experience is nothing short of BADA$$! (Game recognize game! Iykyk!)
And today, I want to talk about how you can channel your inner Beyoncé to become the BADA$$ leader that you’re meant to be.
The most powerful and impactful step you can take is to have a vision for your leadership and the organization(s) you lead.
Many times, when we step into leadership, our focus is to learn what we don’t know and to keep the lights on in our new responsibilities. But, if you stop there, you’re simply managing, not leading. You’re stuck on BASIC leader.
To be a BOLD, and eventually, BADA$$ leader, you must take what you learn and create a vision for the future.
If you’re going to lead, why just hang out and do what has always been done? BADA$$ leaders leave their mark.
Do you think Beyoncé says, “I’ll come on the stage and sing a few songs. Give them what they always experience.” I think not.
When I tell you Beyoncé blew our minds, I mean, SHE. BLEW. OUR. MINDS. with an experience that was like no other concert. She had a vision for what she wanted to create and bring to her audience. I can only imagine how some people, in the early stages, may have reacted to her ideas about the unique visuals, dance moves, and multiple outfit changes that varied by concert. (More on that in another newsletter!)
SHE HAD A VISION.
I must ask, BOLD Leader: Do you have a vision for your leadership and the organization you lead?
Here are three critical questions to help you work through creating a vision. Ask those who report to you, work with you, and those you report to the following:
- What is the greatest challenge that we need to solve?
- What’s the one thing that we must not change?
- What’s our greatest missed opportunity?
The work doesn’t stop there.
Vision is defined in the Oxford dictionary as “the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.”
A vision requires you to bring your superpowers – your unique lived experiences, skills, capabilities, talents, expertise, and education – to bear on what you learn from those questions. Then, use what you bring to the table – your wisdom – to boldly declare the impact your leadership and the organization will have to address the answers to those questions. Align yourself, other resources, and actions with bringing that vision to life.
My vision?
All women leading in their lives, communities, and organizations.
And it’s coming to life every day!
Remember…
BASIC Leaders are just holding down the fort. Nothing new to see here.
BOLD Leaders spend time learning and marrying their superpowers with opportunity. They rely on themselves and what they control to bring their vision to life.
BADA$$ Leaders (aka Beyoncé Leaders) spend time learning, marrying their superpowers with opportunity, and boldly aligning resources – outside of themselves – to bring the vision to life.
I’m down to channel my inner Beyoncé. How about you?
BE AUTHENTIC.
CHOOSE BOLDLY.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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