Opportunity
Opportunity is not the kind of person who just knocks on your door.
Opportunity likes to be invited.
When was the last time you sent an invitation?
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If your story is messy
… don’t add more; find its heart and show that.
Take a step back, subtract the non-essential, and amplify the essential!
Jenny’s drowning startup
Jenny’s heart was all in on her startup, a novel app that aimed to revolutionize online learning. But months post-launch, the expected user growth was stagnant. Maybe, Jenny thought, it just wasn’t good enough.
So, she started adding. A new gamified feature one week, a collaborative tool the next. Her team was on a whirlwind, constantly brainstorming and deploying. “Let’s cast a wider net,” she declared, launching the startup on every conceivable social platform, from TikTok to Pinterest.
Webinars began filling their calendar, alongside speaking engagements, podcasts, and even a fledgling YouTube channel. And every time user engagement dipped or plateaued, Jenny’s solution was consistent: add more.
In team meetings, the whiteboard that once held a singular vision was now a maze of arrows, diagrams, and plans. New team members were hired, not for the core product, but for the ancillary features. The mission statement of the startup morphed weekly.
But amidst the hustle, the app reviews began mirroring a singular sentiment: “It’s become too cluttered.” And the numbers agreed. Users were overwhelmed, and many were leaving.
One evening, in a haze of exhaustion, Jenny stumbled upon the first sketch of her app, penned on a coffee-stained napkin. It was simple, direct, elegant. It reminded her of the original problem she sought to solve and her initial vision.
She called an emergency meeting. The room’s tension was palpable. With the worn napkin in hand, Jenny spoke, “We have a diamond here, but instead of polishing it, we’ve been covering it with decorations. We need to return to its core brilliance.”
The path forward was clear. They needed to refine, not expand. Strip away the trappings and polish the core idea until it sparkled with clarity and purpose.
As they honed in on the essence of the app, its true value shone through. The user experience became smoother, and the app’s core functionalities more robust. The startup, once lost in a sea of embellishments, found its identity and success by showcasing its original, polished gem.
What’s the diamond core of your story?
Leap!
Venturing into the unknown requires bold steps, not just detailed plans.
It’s one thing to say: “Here’s the plan.”
It’s another to say: “I believe in you. Take the leap!”
Your team might have all the answers. But they might need you to believe in them. You’re the person who sees potential in others even when they don’t see it themselves. You’re the one who challenges them, cheers for them, and sometimes you might even have to be the unpopular voice that says: “We can do better.”
A leader’s real job isn’t to have the perfect plan. It’s to light the path and empower their team to take the bold steps.
The Tipping Point
There’s a tipping point in the journey of preparing a speech.
It’s that electric instant when heart, gut, and mind synchronize, and you’re swept up in a tide of confidence and pride because everything clicks into place.
It’s the best part of any session with my clients.
Imagine we’re pouring over your narrative, dissecting thoughts, and assessing arguments in an intense session. The walls begin to fill with thoughts. It still very much feels like chaos.
But at some point, things start to shift …
Slowly at first.
And then, rather suddenly, it happens. A wave of realization hits. You look at the wall and a genuine, irrepressible smile forms. You’re not just pleased—you’re thrilled! Your gut feels it, your heart swells with pride, and your intellect nods in staunch approval. Chaos has turned to order, confusion to clarity. The story now unfolds in your mind with crystal clarity.
If you closed your eyes at that moment you would maybe see yourself on the stage. The spotlight shines, not as a daunting glare but as a warm embrace. The audience fades into a blur, but their energy is palpable. As you deliver your story, each word is uttered with conviction. Each slide, each gesture, and each pause is deliberate, powerful. The world witnesses not just the speaker, but a storyteller in full command, an orator who has grown beyond their already impressive standards.
This is no fantasy. It’s attainable – a reality, in fact, that I get to witness regularly with my clients.
Your differentiator
Being different is a by-product, not a goal.
When you treat it as the goal, “different” can easily become a trap. It deceives you to chase superficial changes like choosing quirky colors, strange slogans, or odd advertising gimmicks in hopes of being unique. Yet, these surface-level tweaks are often meaningless if they don’t tie back to something real and valuable for the customer.
This kind of different wants you to believe that by standing out in a crowd, you’ll capture attention and thrive. And you might. But there’s no guarantee that this attention will be in your favor.
The real magic happens when a business shifts its focus from “different” to “meaningful”.
When you zero in on a specific problem faced by a specific group of people and craft a solution specifically tailored to them, you’ll almost inevitably stand out for them. This customer-centric approach makes a world of difference. When no-one else provides a solution that fits so well for them, you’re obviously different. More importantly, by diving into the lives of the customers, understanding their needs, and crafting solutions that ease their pains, a business becomes a valuable asset to them. It’s about forming a connection that’s deeper than a flashy logo or a catchy tune.
Make no mistake, you might still end up using quirky colors or edgy slogans, packaging, and marketing.
But this time, it’s not just about standing out; it’s about standing out for the right reasons.
The due date
In a small software development company, the team has been working tirelessly for weeks to meet a crucial deadline. On the due date, the leader calls a meeting to review the work. Despite the team’s hard work, there are some bugs that need fixing. The leader, visibly irritated, addresses the team:
“Frankly, I am disappointed. This work is riddled with errors and it’s clear that there’s a lack of attention to detail. We’ll miss the deadline and our client will be furious. I expect everyone to work overtime until these issues are resolved. This is unacceptable.”
A different leader would have said:
“I appreciate the hard work and long hours everyone has put into this project. We’ve come a long way, and the client is excited about what we’ve developed so far. However, we have stumbled upon some bugs that need our attention. I believe in our team’s capability to resolve these issues and meet our client’s expectations. Let’s tackle these challenges head-on and show what we’re made of. I’ll be right here with you, and together, we’ll get this done.”
The words we use can make all the difference. Both in the way they affect our own thinking but also in the way we’re perceived by others and the impact that follows. They can confuse or provide clarity, demotivate or inspire.
Your choice!
Confused Corp
Recently, at Confused Corp, the world market leaders for unclear instructions and perplexed employees.
Leader: “I don’t want us running around in circles anymore. Clear communication is key.”
Team Member: “Does that mean you’ll start speaking English instead of Managerial?”
PS: My podcast “Irresistible Communication” is back from the summer break.
A Tale of a Communication Breakdown
The polite applause rippled through the auditorium as the CEO stepped down from the podium. What a contrast to the electric anticipation that vibrated through the room just an hour ago. The applause was more a courtesy than a celebration, a thin veil over the palpable haze of confusion that now hung in the air.
As the CEO had progressed through the slides of the new strategic plan, the initial spark of excitement gradually dimmed. His words, once awaited with bated breath, now seemed to dance around in circles, weaving a tapestry of jargon that hung between him and the team, a barrier rather than a bridge.
The slide titled “Synergistic Strategies Moving Forward” still burned in the team’s mind, a kaleidoscope of buzzwords and abstract concepts with no translation to the reality the teams were facing daily. The murmurs grew, whispers of confusion weaving through the rows of seats.
When the floor opened for questions, a brave hand shot up. The question was simple, direct, trying to cut through the fog of corporate speak. But the CEO’s answer meandered through a maze of metrics and KPIs, leaving the team even more in the dark than before.
You could feel the disconnect growing, the chasm between the podium and the team widening with every passing minute.
As the CEO descended the steps of the stage, the polite applause followed him out of the auditorium, leaving behind a sea of bewildered faces, each one reflecting the maze of confusion the team found themselves lost in.
What was left was a room full of individuals searching for a beacon in the uncertainty.
Have you experienced a situation similar to this fictional one? How did it impact your team, and what steps did you take to improve communication moving forward?
Brilliant
Are you tired of coaches who think you need “fixing”?
There’s a prevailing notion in parts of the industry that individuals come to coaches because something is “broken”.
Recently, I spoke with a colleague who essentially said “I know better than him what he wants,” implying that this person was kind of lost and needed to be saved.
I prefer a different take: I believe in guiding you towards clarity, not telling you what you should want or need. Everyone, regardless of their current state, possesses an inherent brilliance. It’s one of the reasons why I identify less as a “coach” and more as an “advisor”.
My clients work with me because they are brilliant at what they do and they want to make the best out of that brilliance. I don’t fix them. I grow them.
I never tell you what you should want. I listen closely. I ask questions (tough ones at times). And I help you understand your choices. But it’s always you who makes the choice.
It can feel like coaching at times. It can feel like mentoring. Or anything in between. But in the end, it’s mainly just sharing my expertise with you.
When you think of seeking guidance, are you looking for someone to ‘fix’ you or to help you shine brighter?
Spread the Word
