Nah, I’m not gonnae bother with new year resolutions. Never do. I spend quite enough time throughout the average annual cycle procrastinating about the need to lose a stone or two as it is. But I never get round to it, ‘cos actually putting the effort in doesn’t feel like it will be any fun whatsoever…
However, if I was to set targets and lofty self-improvement goals, I wouldn’t be doing so for myself. Nope, I’d be asking some of my clients to not only limber up and get on their marks, but actually commit to powering out of the blocks to get over the bloody starting line. As it is – despite much training, preparation and strategic planning – I regularly witness a collapse of corporate courage when it comes to pushing forward at pace. Not only is that fearty faltering indicative of ingrained corporate cowardice, it often represents an inability to visualise the potential offered by moving, moving, moving.
Photo by Michael Myers on Unsplash
But hang on a minute, why would I criticise the very hand that feeds me? Why would I cut my nose off to spite my face? Let’s not forget, it’s a golden rule that when you’re self employed, you never, ever piss off your clients. I mean, why would you? They’re your bread and butter, your unofficial PR machine, sometimes even your pals. But sometimes, just sometimes, you have to be the bad guy. And simpy put, my clients actually PAY me to be the bad guy. More accurately, they pay me to be firm but fair; they pay me to help them communicate much, much better. And I do deliver, I do! It’s just that when it comes to my clients actually DOING the suggested stuff, there’s often a lot of limbering up, but precious little running – in fact, some organisations never even get over the starting line. Occasionally they even retreat from it, ending up back in the changing room without having broken a sweat or getting their collective heart rate up.
As the person who’s been brought in to coach, to encourage, to identify potential and map a route towards it, this lack of propulsion can be hair-rippingly frustrating at times. But I need to remind myself that I’m merely a temporary interloper. I may feel that my view from the outside gives me a unique perspective and a clarity unseen by those operating within, but the reality is that organisational culture is often far too deep-rooted to be simply pulled up and given a good shake. And also, I sometimes forget that not everyone is quite as unfearty as I’ve learned to be…
That said, if it was in my gift to foster corporate bravery (it’s not, or at least, not as often as I’d like), I’d love it if more clients got up and running towards the opportunities presented to them by having a new plan to shout loud and clearly about the great stuff they do. And given that I don’t work with shysters and grifters, there’s nothing to fear from piping up. So come on, kids – on your marks, get set, GO!
