Deep Listening.

So he asked: What exactly is it, that you do?

I heard myself thinking: Okay Nicole, this is an important question. You have to be clear now, otherwise expectations will arise that you cannot live up to.

‘I have to be honest with you. I am not a coach.’ I began.

‘I'm not going to help you to get ahead.

In stead I will try to take you deeper.

Into yourself.

Also your team.

So that your heart opens wider and you can find your own strength and in your own unique way, take steps towards the best future version of yourself,

or for your team; their highest future potential.

I can join part of your journey and, walk beside you while you change.

I will let you find your own way, give you tools and help you to keep

the blind spots in sight.

You can see my role as spaceholder, a natural feeler and bridger.

I facilitate change organically.’

Okay that was out and clear. I continued...

‘Deep listening is the most important leadership skill of our time.

Especially now, with everything going on in the world, but also around you and me.

Being able to slow down, to stop to listen to what is really going on,

it is essential.

Deep listening means going beyond repeating patterns, beyond old habits and familiar thoughts. It means being willing to look for something new. It means perceiving the current reality with fresh eyes, but also the future that wants to be born.

Deep listening allows you to see and feel a problem, a challenge or

the system you are working in, from a new perspective.

And that starts by slowing down, finding silence, strengthening the connection with yourself, observing well, being curious and sensing.’

Wow... I hope I got his attention.

I closed with:

‘Otto Scharmer said something in Theory U training last year that touched me:

"Almost all the times I saw leadership or innovation fail, it was due to the fact that leaders were unable to listen deeply, unable to see with fresh eyes. To connect

with changing realities. With what wants to be born."

And I remember where I was sitting at the time and how his observation touched me.

If we want to change in any way, improve ourselves and our environment, or strengthen the team we work in. Then it starts with deep listening.

First to yourself.

And then to your environment, your social field.

I found out that expanding our capacity to listen deeply only comes by practising it daily.

And that is exactly what my offer is all about.’

I think I had his attention 😅

Always exciting, to deliver a pitch.

If you curious too by now,

you might want to take a look at Natural Change for small teams.

And in Dutch: U Journey voor teams & U Journey individueel.