invite CHANGE

March 3, 2010

A Conversation on Wholeness: Human & Organizational

Community of Coaching, Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Organizational Wholeness, Human Wholeness,  

Let the conversation begin! With gratitude to Publisher, Garry Schleifer, choice, the magazine of professional coaching, (www.choice-online.com) we launched the first of a four part, multi-media telecall series on Wholeness last Thursday, February 25th. You will find an MP3 link below as well as some references I made to a couple of books plus a wonderful article one of our listeners shared that is a fantastic view into "how" individuals achieve human wholeness and ultimately, influence the process of wholeness in organizations. A valuable inquiry emerged near the end of our conversation that I want to invite each of us to consider and engage in the conversation about and it is this: Is wholeness a prerequisite to oneness? Read on, and, add your point of view, many times!

In a word, "yes," wholeness is a prerequisite to oneness. And underneath that simple declaration is a rich vein of gold for us to explore.

A fundamental principle and I feel the premise of professional coaching is this:  perceive and accept individual wholeness, resourcefulness and capability.  This is equally true for the coach to perceive about self as it is to perceive about a client, as an individual, a team or an organizational entity. In our inviteCHANGE, coaching approach training and leadership development programs (www.invitechange.com) we added the term, creativity to this principle in order to recognize that it is this innate characteristic of being human that generates our experience.  All four characteristics of being human are essential to bringing the "ideal self" and the "real self," as espoused by Professors Richard Boyatzis (www.eiconsortium.org/members/boyatzis.htm) and Annie McKee (www.teleosleaders.com) into full alignment.

The absolute belief in and full acceptance of each other's unique wholeness is an act of freedom.  Consider for a moment how much energy individuals expend each day wondering about how they compare, measure up or access their potential in a given relationship or situation.  What is available when we free up that energy?

Belief and acceptance of our human wholeness accesses idle energy and allows two important alternatives:

1. Confident expression of self, unencumbered by self-conscious censoring so that bold curiosity and imagination are available
2. Deep listening and complete presence with another so that connection and engagement is more complete

Why do individuals and organizations resist moving toward these invaluable benefits?  Why is leadership from wholeness so difficult to achieve?

These and many more questions will be the subject of our ongoing conversation.  I hope you will listen to last week's call, check out the references offered below, add your own and join the conversation.  See you in a couple of days.   

RESOURCES:

Did you miss the "choice Multi Media Expert Series" call by choice Magazine?
 

Dial-in: (402) 426-6969 Playback Code: 46665568#
Web Link: http://www.whistletree.com/play/4EFFUHT7F21DY4NA

You may be prompted to login with your whistletree account. If you don't have one you'll be able to signup. It's free, quick, and easy.

   Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, Daniel H. Pink; Riverhead Books, January 2010

   Community: The Structure of Belonging, Peter Block; Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008 

   Journal of Organizational Excellence, Summer of 2006, Intentional Change, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee