Yesterday I realised how difficult I find it to navigate gracefully between what is good for the collective and the needs of individuals. It feels like a tight breathless spot to me – and much as I try to make it all work – I often get it wrong.
This poem sets me right. Its another from salt by nayyirah waheed.
Have a beautiful day!
Love
Nicola
Today we ask one of the most beautiful questions – from a David Whyte poem: “What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky?”
Because today one year ago we were in the Royal Festival Hall – a small team co-designing a revolutionary, systems-based leadership programme called Leading Collective Impact. One year on – we’ve a strong team led by the excellent Jacq Lim, a successful pilot, have a panel of brilliant coaches and are half-way through a profound programme on diversity and inclusion. Even more important we’ve had almost 50 women participate in the programme and seen extraordinary transitions and applied insights.
What could you seed now that could spread its branches against the sky next year? Or in ten years?
Here is the rest of the poem by David Whyte. Its called ‘What to remember when waking“
In that first hardly noticed moment in which you wake,
coming back to this life from the other
more secret, moveable and frighteningly honest world
where everything began,
there is a small opening into the new day
which closes the moment you begin your plans.
What you can plan is too small for you to live.
What you can live wholeheartedly will make plans enough
for the vitality hidden in your sleep.
To be human is to become visible
while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others.
To remember the other world in this world
is to live in your true inheritance.
You are not a troubled guest on this earth,
you are not an accident amidst other accidents
you were invited from another and greater night
than the one from which you have just emerged.
Now, looking through the slanting light of the morning window
toward the mountain presence of everything that can be
what urgency calls you to your one love?
What shape waits in the seed of you
to grow and spread its branches
against a future sky?
Is it waiting in the fertile sea?
In the trees beyond the house?
In the life you can imagine for yourself?
In the open and lovely white page on the writing desk?
Can we help? Speak to Laura on hello@sheleadshange.org to find out more around how Leading from Within or Leading Collective Impact or our Spring Board panel could help you spread those branches wide.
Have a beautiful day!
Love
Nicola
Thursday was the first of our lock down series – a monthful of beauty to sustain us through COVID, the approaching winter – and beyond. You can read Fridays poem here.
Today, many of us are breathing a collective sight of relief that a win for Biden might be a win for all – and for the planet. We’re also standing a little taller to see Kamala Harris on a podium and our daughters are imagining themselves afresh.
It’s not over. We still need to each keep showing up in places that make us uncomfortable, keep voicing our own principles against a world that is full of inequity, damage and contradictions. We have to stay brave in living into the more beautiful world our hearts know us possible.
I love this poem by Seth Godin – and it feels right for today because it takes the focus back from a man vs a man to each of us as individuals…
If not now, when?
Care a little more.
Show up.
Embrace possibility.
Tell the truth.
Dive deeper.
Seek the truth behind the story.
Ask the difficult question.
Lend a hand.
Dance with fear.
Play the long game.
Say ‘no’ to hate.
Look for opportunities, especially when it seems like there aren’t any left.
Risk a bigger dream.
Take care of the little guy.
Offer a personal insight.
Build something magical.
Keep your promises.
Do work that matters.
Expect more.
Sign your work.
Be generous for no reason.
Give the benefit of the doubt.
Develop empathy.
Make your mom proud.
Take responsibility.
Give credit.
Play by a better set of rules.
Choose your customers.
Choose your reputation.
Choose your future.
Thank the ref.
Reward patience.
Leap.
Breathe.
Because we can.
It really is up to us. Which is great, because we’re capable of changing everything if we choose. All we can do is all we can do, but maybe, all we can do is enough.
Have a beautiful day. See you tomorrow.
Love
Nicola
Yesterday was the first of our lock down series – a monthful of beauty to sustain us through the next few weeks – and beyond. You can read yesterdays poem here.
Today, lets invite a wild god to our tables.
Here – let Tom Hirons tell you more…
May you invite glorious, unexpected guests into your world this weekend with otters in their eyes and primroses at their feet. While the ‘shops are all closed’, may you stop your bleeding and dance and dream with the foxes, the pelicans, the wrens and the unnameable beasts – into your own forgotten possibilities…
Love
Nicola
P.S. Is anyone tempted to write a poem “Sometimes a wild goddess”? Please share!
How are you? Can you, like me, feel the sharpening edges of our world cutting into you?
Over this next 4-weeks of lock down, I’d like to invite you on a daily journey with me. Each day I’m going to share a poem drawing on poets whose work seems to soften those sharp edges.
May a month of poetry offer you a mouthful of hope, reveal honey in your heart.
Our poem for today is from salt by nayyirah waheed.
Start your own revolution.
Love,
Nicola
P.S You can buy her book here. Please do let me know if you find another supplier.
Pearson provides content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. Committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work, Pearson are passionate about learning.
Over the last two years, Pearson has partnered with She Leads Change, growing their leaders for long term impact through our Leadership Programmes, Coaching & Mentoring and offering a Community in which to practice…
We asked Hannah Cheek – Co-head of Mentoring, Will UK at Pearson, to share her experience of our Leading Collective Impact programme.
“This is no ordinary leadership skills course. This is about self-awareness and reflection, opening up, leaning into the uncomfortable, exploring, sharing and learning with others. There are no passive moments, this is a wholehearted, full bodied learning experience, driven from within.”
In January I embarked on a wonderful journey of reflection and development as part of the She Leads Change Collective Impact programme.
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
What She Leads Change offers, and I have not experienced before, is a safe place to practice breaking all those habits and self doubts that hold us back. This was about finding your voice, knowing your values and seeking connection.
INCREASED CONFIDENCE
I have better habits. I no longer worry about speaking up in meetings, what should I say and I have faith in the value of that contribution. It has led to more authentic exchanges and moved my focus from doing to connecting.
“I’m more confident, more comfortable with being myself, more comfortable with being challenged.”
As part of the collective impact programme we had areas of enquiry (mine was supporting more diversity in Science.) As a collective we explored our areas of enquiry and the links between them. I enjoyed the process of exploring opportunities, it was liberating and exciting…I learnt to trust in the process.
COACHING & MENTORING
Another amazing aspect of She Leads Change is the access to highly skilled coaches. My coach Raj was amazing, we talked a lot about things that I felt were holding me back as well as my area of enquiry. Raj had a whole range of contacts that she kindly introduced me to. With my new-found voice, and confidence on the power of connection, I set about reaching out to some truly inspiring individuals who also share my passion for Science and diversity.
“She Leads Change has created a real buzz in Pearson. Participants are talking about huge boosts to their self-belief and rediscovering their strengths and personal attributes. The impact of this is a more confident approach to work, where women recognise the value that they bring to discussions and are brave enough to expand their networks.”
I don’t know exactly what will be next, but with the confidence I have gained and the collective support of the wonderful community at She Leads Change, I just know it is going to be great!
If you’d like find out more about our upcoming programmes for 2021 or if you’re an organisation curious about partnering with us in support of your leaders’ growth and development, let’s have a conversation!