5 Ways to Dig Your Own Well
Your most powerful contributions are the answers you’ve found for yourself.
A struggle answered is purpose found.
Profundity is relative:
What’s simple to you is profound to others. You’ve grown bored with the profound lessons in your past.
Remember how excited you were to see the power of letting others talk, rather than controlling? Perhaps it’s a ho-hum habit today. But someone needs your profound insight.
Don’t let yesterday’s insight fade in light of today’s new challenge.
Fresh for others:
The water you found yesterday is only stale to you. “Old” insights are water thirsty people need.
The need for fresh insight, like thirst, always returns.
You need fresh water, but yesterday’s water is fresh for someone else. Your story is water. Don’t hesitate to pour it out again.
10 questions to dig wells for others:
Dig into your story to find water for others.
- How are you moving toward authenticity?
- How are you answering loneliness?
- What makes you feel useful and fulfilled?
- How are you finding energy?
- How are you facing uncertainty?
- How are you strengthening relationships?
- How are you learning from others?
- How are you staying focused?
- How are you finding and expressing boldness?
- How are you having fun?
Deep usefulness to others often comes in casual ways as you reveal your story.
5 ways to dig your own well:
- Develop a development plan. One of the great challenges of leadership is taking time to develop yourself.
- Stop trying to know so damn much. Hang with people who know more than you.
- Read and reflect.
- Take on new challenges.
- Teach someone to do what’s old hat to you.
There are no final answers to the deep questions of leadership. Keep finding fresh water.
How might leaders dig their own wells?
How might leaders share insights without being know-it-alls?
Dan,
Thanks for reminding us that not all of our “old stories” are just old stories. These are our actual experiences that formed the basis of our beliefs, that then drove our actions and our results. I agree that in today’s pace of business we often edit ourselves from sharing for the sake of time, or discount value of sharing the specific experience. Of course in some cases we are probably wise, but other times we should consider, or even gamble that sharing our experiences will bring value to others.
I also want to thank you for including the question about answering our loneliness. As leaders it is always a struggle to balance satisfying the thirst of others while still tending to our own well. Combatting loneliness in a productive manner is not often addressed. Thank you.
Thanks Steve. I respect your candor. The question of when to share a story is important. No one wants to here an indulgent leader repeating the past, for example. Someone should write a blog about when to share your story and when to withhold it.
Regarding loneliness, leaders long for relationship just like everyone else. I think there are some barriers that hinder connection. Position may not make you feel different, but it makes others treat you different.
Best regards.
Dan, truly spot on, I have found for me the key to stories is not to dwell on them repeatedly, people will tend to disassociate with you. Keeping topics new and fresh seems to interact the best for me. We have to tell a story as “we” not so much as “I”, unless it truly is your true story! For me constantly learning all I can is my ” well dig” so I can share and help others grow!
Thanks Tim. Very helpful insights. The “we” vs “I” is something easy to put into practice. Put yourself in a team story. It might answer arrogance.
Cheers!!
That’s what I’m thinking with the “I” syndrome, structure with ” we”! Have a great day?
Good morning Dan;
Here’s a different spin. You n Tim are hot today! I have always been a bit of a story teller myself.Why? In my experience (Perception) is paramount. Problem is, we don’t all percueve the same to any given stimuli, one on ones, a group meeting, or disseminate via memo. The point is for all to understand vision and mission as one. AND BUY IN.
Story telling can be a great way to inspire curriocity, garner attention and interest you you get to see if the ‘lite bulb’ crimes on or not. If it doesn’t, it’s quite possible your audience did not perceive the big picture as you intended. Coincider your audience then Taylor your story or presentation that maximizes chances for Sucsess.
PERSEPTION
Cheers Dan
Sgt Steve
Thanks SGT. “Tailor stories to the audience.” That’s the powerful source of connection and relevance. I think it means that we understand the audience and look at the situation through their perspective. 🙂
Have a great weekend.
Same to you my friend.
“HAPPY EASTER N PRAISE GOD! I”
Me too Sgt, our life is our story, what we share can be life changing for someone or many! We have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Have a great day! Tim
Tim
STOP… Your making me Blush!
We don’t always know who’s life or heart we’ve touched. Lifes not about looking for opportunities to ‘Build your brother UP’, it’s living every moment like sombody’s watching…
Steve
They are watching# 🙂
Wish I had spell-check… 🙁
Hang with people who know more than you….so true…and everyone has some useful knowledge I don’t. It’s just a matter of finding out what it is….
Thanks idoinspire. Just keep telling yourself that everyone knows more than you in some area. Love it.
Best wishes