Chapters of Leadership: Settling - Emotional Connection pt.3
We Have to Make Sure We Have It
If You Don’t Have Courage or Confidence, You Can’t Give It
For me this moment happened in a Chick-Fil-A with my mentor Chris Gigl. I was six months into a job at a construction company, sitting in a public restaurant with tears in my eyes telling Chris I was too stupid to do the job and that I needed to move on. Yet, there he was - a man who knew me and had taken the time to authentically connect with me - telling me I could do it and that he would be right there with me the entire way.
The day in Chick-Fil-A shifted something. Chris didn’t give me platitudes or self-help mantras, he gave me something he possessed - courage & confidence. I walked away from the meeting still feeling like a fraud and insufficient for the task ahead, but I had been authentically encouraged. He did something for me I had not experienced previously by infusing me with courage and confidence at one of my lowest points.
As we close with this last ingredient in our chapter of Settling there is something each and every well | rooted leader must know and confront. This story and journey of leadership may make you feel like a fraud, inadequate, shine lights on broken parts, but through this process you will need human connection with someone to give encouragement to you. On the other side of the coin are those of us who now lead others that must go deeper and strive to create authentic connection with those we lead. As you have needed the courage and confidence to step into more, it is now your turn to give it to others. To close this chapter we either need to find someone to authentically encourage us or we need to be the one giving it. Regardless, to be well | rooted leaders it will take authentic human connection.
Stay Rooted~
Deeper Roots
If you have courage and/or confidence to give away you have had to have moments where fear and insecurity has been revealed and/or present in spite of your actions.
What is a recent example where one of these is true?
Who is your Chris?
Are you someone’s Chris?
If not, are you open to becoming a well | rooted leader so that you have something to give someone else?
Do you have a moment in your life where you were at a low point and someone stood shoulder-to-shoulder with you and infused you with a transformative level of courage?
