Topic:  Where will you sharpen your ideas?

This is your IdeaShape monthly newsletter, October 2001,
with ideas on leadership and life for executives,
managers, consultants, and executive coaches.
By Pam Fox, IdeaShape Coaching & Consulting
http://www.ideashape.com

Contents
A.   The Big Idea
B.   Ideas in Action
C.   Note from Pam

KNOW ANYONE WHO MAY ENJOY THIS?
Feel free to forward this newsletter to interested friends 
and colleagues. For a complimentary subscription to 
this monthly newsletter, they can mail to: 
newsletter@ideashape.com

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A.   The Big Idea:  Where will you sharpen your ideas?

      "The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas."
                          ~ Linus Pauling

      "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."
                          ~ Jimi Hendrix

In August, we talked about "playing like you"... finding your own voice
as you lead and live.  Introspection and self-awareness are useful for
any form of creativity.  However, if introspection slips into isolation,
it can be tough to move our ideas into practice.

As I observe corporate leaders and entrepreneurs, I consistently see 
the power in having a loose-knit, diverse group of smart people to whom
they can turn for guidance and feedback.  Who are you talking with?

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B.  Ideas in Action:  Where do you turn to sharpen your ideas?

1. Build your kitchen cabinet?
What if you had 3-12 people who really enjoyed helping you think
about your business?  People of wisdom and integrity who understand 
who you are and what you're creating, who delight in your success, 
who truly enjoy conversing with you?  My clients have built their informal
advisory boards from former classmates, ex-colleagues, and 
friends-of-friends. A fast and effective way to create your cabinet is
to reciprocate, perhaps creating a group of 6-12 people from diverse
fields who talk regularly as a sounding board for each other's ideas. 
You can invite input as a group or one-on-one, regularly or occasionally, 
in person, by email, or by conference call.

2.  Ask your team and colleagues?
Your team... you know, the people who are out there aiming to make
your last great idea actually work!   You might worry that asking
your team for input may make you look like you don't have all the 
answers. That's true, but consider the benefits:  your team sees 
you value them as thought-partners as well as implementers, you're 
more likely to gain their support, and you're modeling that great 
leaders are great learners. We often act as if forming our own 
great ideas and gathering input are mutually exclusive.  The most 
effective leaders  I see do both,  iterating gracefully between them.

3.  Work with a professional thought-partner?
If you've ever worked with a colleague who helped you sharpen
your thinking every time you talk with her, you know how fabulous
it is to find a great collaborator.  Sometimes, you can turn to peers
for this. At other times, you may want a thought-partner who is 
consistently impartial, confidential, and available.  A subset of 
consultants and coaches excel in this work.  Engaging the right 
person may be a very smart investment, whether for a half-hour 
call or a series of intense white-board sessions.

4. Host a learning community?
Think of a competency you're developing or a field where you're
struggling to keep current.  What if, instead of going it alone, 
you pooled your questions and learnings with others?  With private 
email groups, it's easy to manage your own interest group or 
learning community.  The hard part can be finding sharp, savvy 
people you trust, especially if confidentiality is an issue.  One 
approach is to ask your current network who they would contact
to get smarter about XYZ.  I've found that experts are often delighted
to participate in a learning community as long as you make 
excellent use of their time and help them keep the pulse on current 
developments. Plus, in reaching out to them, you may discover 
an existing learning community.

5.  Access your own deep wisdom?
Under what conditions do you most clearly hear your own wise 
counsel?  When you're rested?  With some white space on your 
calendar?  Imagine the surge in your productivity if you consistently 
created the conditions for clarity. Because no matter who you ask 
for feedback, at the end of the day, the decisions are yours.

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C.  Note from Pam

First, I hope that you and yours are safe as we move through
these difficult times.  Thank you for the emails of concern
and connection.

I think the biggest beneficiary of this uncertainty may be Starbucks.
Never have I had so many requests to "do coffee!" We tend to view 
networking as who we know, and the more the better. Here's where 
I think we make a wrong turn:  what do we mean by "know"?

What all the well-rehearsed networking intros can't tell me is 
how the person relates to another human being and how effectively 
they collaborate. I wanna see them in action!  I'm finding the most 
powerful way a professional relationship deepens is for one of us to 
share our ideas, thoughts, vision, plans and for the other to listen 
well, and, if invited, add value.

In other words, we begin to collaborate, casually and informally.

Perhaps this is a time to focus on deepening relationships, 
rather than adding more.  A time to offer the richness of our 
thoughts and the truth in our hearts.  And a time to be willing 
to sit and listen.

Each month you receive this email with ideas and resources
you can use to shape your success. Some of these ideas may
strike you as obvious... I invite you to step back and look at
how this is actually working in your life. Others may seem
far out... I invite you to consider how much choice you
actually have. If you'd like to get in touch about any of this,
please email me. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Pam

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WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU TO...
Expand your capacity to take on bigger opportunities?
Lead your organization to bring out the best around you?
Be your most creative, focused self in your work?
Shape a life that consistently fulfills you?

Contact us for coaching, facilitation, leadership development,
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, and related services that help
executives, fast-trackers, teams, and professionals
achieve their goals faster and more easily.

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