23 September 2008
Successful Intentions Newsletter
Hi ,
Change - it's harder than it looks.
When have you made big changes in your life, ? Chances are it took a lot of time and effort, and probably a lot of pain!
Bob Kegan, Professor of Adult Learning and Professional Development at Harvard University and Co-Director for the Change Leadership Group, suggests any intentional shift from our old identity (X) to a new identity (Y) takes 6 steps:
- X is the old way of being - familiar, comfortable, acceptable.
- But then we get a sense that there's "something else out there for me", even if we don't quite know what that is yet. This step is represented as X(y).
- As we develop a clearer sense of what we want (Y) we begin to feel anxious about what we're leaving behind (X). "What if I can't do it? What if it's not real?" This is represented as X/Y.
- Then we get excited about the change. "I wish I could be more (Y)". Yet there's still a fear of loss of the old way of being. This step is represented as Y/X.
- The next step is a deliberate declaration of the new identity represented as Y(x). We avoid people we used to associate with at X. We become resistant to criticism. "I love it here and I won't be pulled back!" Yet there's still baggage from the previous identity (x).
- Finally, at Y we fully embrace the new sense of self. "This is a new life - a second chance!"
Of course we're more likely to "stumble" towards change than make these transitions with any kind of seamless grace - two steps forward, one step backwards! And BIG changes can takes months and years.
And even then progressive change is not guaranteed. We can just as easily slip back to the old way of being. Yet Kegan says these big shifts in life are part of our adult development. "Life is pain Princess. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something!"
It also helps to have a guide, a mentor, a coach!
- , register here for the inaugural ECI (European Coaching Institute) Australasian Coaching Conference 2008: "The Future of Coaching - Embracing the Opportunities of the 2010's" in Sydney, November 20-22.
- And don't forget to register for the December 12, Coaching for WisdomŪ one-day workshop here. This is an introduction to the psychology of wisdom and its application in advanced coaching practice and will be held at the Sydney campus of the Melbourne Business School, Pyrmont NSW.
(This event is already half full!) Send in your registration form now to secure a place, and pay by November 30.
Keep your intentions clear,
Peter Webb
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