Unleashing team potentials beyond the average, beyond the known and beyond the habitual requires soft skills. But is it possible to “train” respect, trust and communication skills? Or are some people just not open for change when it comes to soft skills? Is setting soft skills free something you can push or work hard on? The opposite may be the case.
New Approaches to Open up for New Skills
Use curiosity instead of installing fear, to inspire to explore beyond the presumingly safe space of the known, the box, the habitual, the way we always did the things we do. Imagine, if your organization would promote the idea of exploring new possibilities continuously. How would you feel? Would it scare you to possibly never lean back again and relax in the old routine? Does it excite you to never feel stuck, bored or frustrated at work again, since you are part of a growing and continuously developing environment? Or do you find yourself somewhere in the middle? How do you assess your colleagues? Do you think they see the opportunity and are open and willing to engage in new approaches?
Imagine your organization and the members of it: can you imagine what influence such an awareness of attitude, emotional intelligence and know-how might have on the future of your work-life? Can you imagine what impact members of your organization have not only on the future development but also on a daily life level, if they felt inspired and “safe” to show up as who they are? Are you aware of the impact of lack of awareness of those soft factors, both on the individual and on the company?
You Form the Culture you Live in
I work for companies whose leaders are willing to be engaged personally in the change process, by looking at themselves and their attitude, habits, strategies first. I believe you cannot delegate Cultural Development by hiring a coach to make the employees “function”. Look at yourself, understand and know yourself, before acting, if you want to inspire others to bring out their best.
A Safe Environment requires Trust
Creating an inspiring environment takes building trust first. Positive or “non-violant” communication skills, constructive feedback, applied emotional intelligence and openness are delicate topics to be treated with sensitivity lead to building trust. You can trust someone who walks their talk, someone who shows up as who they are. Someone real.
Huge potential of extra energy can be released and applied constructively in a positive way, when we address those unconscious, unattended issues of lack of trust.
That’s where thinking stops and flow starts…
We are all Leaders
I believe a good leader has a profound self-knowledge, engages in continuous development and applies know-how, intelligence and compassion.
Leadership that inspires fear won’t get the most out of potential talent. There is space for growth between survival and thriving. Leadership that inspires curiosity inspires creativity and even a sense of community. It is not just about writing those numbers but being seen and appreciated as a unique human with a unique approach to things.
What else is possible?
What else is possible? How can we make things better? How do we dare to go beyond imagination and allow new ideas to come up? I believe you don’t inspire that safe space by pressure. It takes a culture of understanding, trust and positive, open communication and a space for playful exploration to allow brand-new ideas fall into our awareness.
For a leader it takes openness, willingness and courage to experiment and de-velop him-or herself continuously first.
Know Thyself
Showing up as who you are and being a role model for others is more potent than taking smart decisions and delegating from the background. I guess it is for all the same: by being who and how we are, we can bring our unique authentic self to the play.
There are unlimited tools available in order to teach how to create a safe environment for trust, open communication and creativity. The first step is in becoming aware of how open your and your colleagues mindset is and playfully examining the pros and cons of the current mindset.
How to create a Safe Environment
It is about inspiring the adventurer’s spirit that dares to explore the potential of the unknown. But how do you create a safe environment to instill this spirit?
There are many ways leading to Rome: Interesting, inspiring and challenging games, experiments, volunteering opportunities, creative experiments, team-building incentives or individual or team coaching work as incentive are some.
Change starts as a mental phenomenon.
Letting go of ideas and image, daring to share your true self!
(Photos: Improvisation training at Trampa Teatre in Mallorca)
This is the real secret of life, to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.
Alan Watts
Imagine if every member of your organization could use their mind the way they choose instead of being slave of a compulsive or pre-programmed thinking. When we experience moments of mental stillness, creativity can flow freely, a very pleasurable experience. To help people switch from feeling pushed or forced, into feeling pulled or inspired is a delicate skill. Yet, this training opens minds for the unknown and creates a safe environment, where trust and community can develop.
Coming up next:
How to Build Community
Shared resources, joint interests, joint needs, joint goals
The Walking Guru - Self Empowerment in Action 
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