With spring in full bloom, I've noticed a brand new bird's nest in the window box by my door. That got me thinking about how birds raise their young. When it is time for a young bird to fly, its mother will toss it out of the nest. No, mother birds aren't cruel, sadistic creatures. On the contrary, they are tuned in to the progress of their young and instinctively know when their chicks are ready to fly. Tossing them out of the nest is both a challenge and a vote of confidence.
This reminds me of one of the cornerstones of the co-active coaching model I follow which holds everyone to be naturally creative, resourceful and whole. You're not broken; you're not going to break if I ask you a challenging question. Holding you in this way as your coach, allows me to help you step in to the best parts of yourself and keeps me from rushing in with advice or the answer. I trust that you have the right answer within you and that you have the qualities required to achieve your goals.
What would it be like if you held everyone in your life as naturally resourceful, creative and whole? Your partner, your children, your co-workers. How would that change your relationship with them? Where would you challenge them and ask them to step up? Where would you back off and allow them to make their own decisions and live with the consequences?
For a truly radical turn, consider for a moment that YOU are naturally creative, resourceful and whole. Hmm. What's different about you now? How do you act? How do you stand and walk? How do you relate to those around you? Maybe it's time to throw yourself out of the nest. What's Possible?
Tara McDonough Tara McDonough, CPCC, is the owner of What’s Possible? an international coaching company which helps people expand and achieve their vision of what is possible. There is a place in coaching for wild imagining, as well as concrete planning, a time for in-depth discussion followed by bold action. Full Profile & Contact Information...
