The CEO Within
As I write this article, many executives in the Northern Hemisphere will be taking some much needed time out to be with their families and enjoy the warm weather, whether that is sitting on a beach, climbing mountains or discovering the beauty of distant lands.
And while the outer CEO is lying next to a pool, or scrabbling over cliffs, the inner CEO is slowly becoming more visible.
It's surprising the number of people who say they get their best ideas whilst relaxing on holiday, doing something that takes them into 'flow' or engaged in something that is physically challenging, but mentally relaxing. Why is this and who would we be if we could achieve these levels of relaxation and calm in the midst of the boardroom?
Taking time to relax and reconnect with the inner CEO is an important part of feeling congruent, united, at one, or whatever descriptor you choose to use. But, all to often we put most of our attention on the outer CEO, the one that is in the public eye, the one who has to make decisions, solve the organisational problems and lead an organisation to continued growth. But, what is surprising is that the more attention you put on the inner CEO, the greater the capacity the outer CEO has to navigate the world of business, relationships and wellbeing.
The inner CEO is full of capacity to act, create, love, bounce back, but because our minds are focussed on the outer CEO, our capacity is diminished by our busy minds that are trying to second guess our people, the competition and how to juggle family commitments and our own personal sense of security.
If we can find a way to reconnect the inner and outer CEO more often, then the results that we achieve at back at the office can benefit from the insights that we have every day, not just when we are taking time out. And, who doesn't want to have greater insights when they are leading a multi-billion pound organisation?
Reconnecting with your inner CEO requires you to realise that you are always connected and that in order to tap into the capacity of the inner CEO, you simply need to let the noise from your thinking fade and listen for that voice of wisdom. Learning to listen for insight is a practice that needs careful tuning, but is something that you can start today and will serve you to the end of time. The good news is that it's context sensitive, so is applicable irrespective of your situation and it's not dependent on adding 5 more steps to success, or a new regime to your busy mornings.
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Matt Goddard is a powerful Executive and Life Coach, who is committed to helping CxO's and Business owners find greater inner and outer success. He has worked with a wide range of industries including Business Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Telecoms and Retail. If you would like to find out more, please visit www.changeleaf.co.uk, or to work with Matt, contact his office on 01793 765144, or email him at Mattgoddard@changeleaf.co.uk