TrueVoice Tuesday, a weekly email designed to give you a short burst of inspiration in a world that feels chaotic and confusing.
Each week the format is: A Truth | A Tip | A Take | A Tale.
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A Truth (one thought about sharing your TrueVoice):
When you learn that part of your own TrueVoice is helping others find and share theirs, things begin shifting towards the good.
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A Tip (one thing I’ve picked up from others this week):
“If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s.” (attributed to Joseph Campbell, but sent to me from my good friend, Chris Stathos)
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A Take (a strong opinion or nitpick):
Trust people who say “I’m doing my work.” You’ll know it has nothing to do with our traditional definition of work when used in that context.
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A Tale (a short story):
Last Tuesday, I was invited into a leadership retreat to spend two hours guiding a team through my TrueVoice materials.
There were five courageous leaders in the room, and a few minutes into the session, my business coach (who also coaches the other CEO and her team) joined as well.
I was a bit intimidated.
But we pressed on.
We talked about Professional Vulnerability, Reluctance and Hesitation, and the Prompts and Circles work it takes to get clear on your strategic, clear, compelling, TrueVoice.
The leadership landscape is shifting, and it’s becoming required work for leaders to move beyond traditional skill development as the bar gets raised for what healthy, engaged, helpful leadership looks like.
Gone are the days when leaders can sit in their offices and board rooms and control a team through compliance and cubicle checks.
Talented people will not put up with it, at least not for long.
As we made our way through the session, I was struck by how badly people have been burned by leaders in power who have used their voice for harm.
Keeping others small, silent, and scared.
But not this group.
Their affect is awesome.
Their behaviors are brave.
Their culture is contagious.
And their voices, even when they’re shaky and subtle, are becoming stronger and clearer.
Not just for their own benefit, but to chart a new corporate course and witness others live out their TrueVoice as well.
