I was chatting with a colleague of mine about the weather outside one day this fall, and yes it was frightful as the song goes. The air was filled with thick fog blurring the landscape. The more we chatted, though, the better my perspective came into view…
Kathleen Klawitter, author of “Direct Hit” and keynote speaker, put it this way:
The sun is always shining even when dark clouds get in the way. “ The day of my podcast with Rick Bernstein, was truly a dark and gloomy day with cold drizzle falling in South Dakota. Even a thick fog covered the area, yet despite this gloomy appearance, we had a significant conversation, with shining moments in every topic. This is a perfect analogy in life when dark clouds of seeming obstacles and distraction fill your mind. We always have access to a higher force greater than ourselves. It is that invisible intangible force we can draw on at any moment, if we only dive into ourselves on a deeper octave, and accept the mystery of the unknown, and perhaps a new perspective, a ray of light. The internal eyes need only to adjust… like an owl in flight at night.
I first realized this phenomenon twenty years ago, when I was sitting in an airplane enroute to Santa Barbara, CA, from dark and gloomy Chicago in the debt of winter. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane suddenly burst through the dark clouds, and Shazam, there it was, a clear blue sky and a golden sun that filled my senses with delight. We are connected to this Light in the same way! The Light is always within us, despite any obstacles that arise. Sometimes we need a gentle reminder…"The darkest hour is just before the dawn.”
In Italian, the literal translation of “to give birth”— “Dare alla Luce”— is: “to give to the light”. An exquisite phrase to describe the beauty and wonder of childbirth. The unborn baby is in the dark tunnel of the womb, and then, when born, comes out of the dark and into the light!
Kathleen Klawitter
"Reprogram Your Brain
Take Charge Of Your Life"
www.kathleenklawitter.com
This wisdom comes into play for leaders today who are finding their way through a foggy landscapes. Some days it's hard to see the forest for the trees, with mixed jobs reports, fluctuating market conditions, and mixed narrative messages.
As leaders we face what I call, “Teeter Totter” moments. It’s not one reality over another, it’s both or all. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to things. What may work now, may not in the next hour. But how can leaders see through these foggy conditions?
We can take our lessons from the owl who is far superior in seeing through the dark.
1. Owls are exceptional listeners
Now is a good time for leaders to get out beyond engagement survey scores and simply listen. Listen to not just the words being used, but the tone and emotion behind what they are saying.
2. Consider alternative perceptions
An owl can turn its head 270 degrees and see from multiple perspectives. Can you as a leader see from different perspectives? This invaluable trait will help uncover the unknown truths and realities that may be otherwise covered by fog.
3. Tap into independent thinking
An owl symbolizes independence. Learn to step away from what is assumed to be true and ask questions even if they are inconvenient questions. The thinking of “that’s the way we’ve always done it” is more dangerous now than ever. Now is the time to challenge the status quo.
In times like these when chaos continues and realties are hard to pin down, its best to think like an owl.
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