We pushed all of the tables to the sides of the room and formed a large circle with our chairs. I didn’t know what to expect, there were three female executives that had flown in and they wanted to host an afternoon meeting with the female leaders in the office. We spent two hours together, sitting in that circle, and only covered introductions. It was one of the most impactful meetings that I have attended.
The executives set the tone, going first, they each spoke bravely with vulnerability and openness, sharing their career and life journey. We went one-by-one around the circle sharing our own story. There were no interruptions, everyone had as much time as they needed, and we all sat with open and empathic hearts listening to understand. There were tears and laughter and a palpable energy of genuine care and connection.
Two realizations gained that have stuck with me:
- True connection and the feeling of being seen and understood are powerful
- No journey is a perfectly straight line nor without setbacks and struggles
Years later I grew restless and could sense that something was missing. It was in trying to figure out what was missing that I stumbled upon leadership coaching. On a bit of a whim, I applied and was accepted into Georgetown’s Leadership Coaching program. While I had worked with a coach previously, I didn’t know much about the profession. It was there that I found a room filled with people that Brené Brown would describe as having a “strong back, soft front, wild heart”.
Becoming an executive coach is defined by these experiences. My objective is to be fully present, see and honor the individual, and listen to understand. It creates a powerful space for the client to explore their thinking, challenge their assumptions, and realize their potential. It is the commitment that I make to clients and it has brought me immense joy to watch my clients thrive based on the connection created.
The second half of the equation is honoring that everyone’s journey is different. There are triumphs and success, as well as setbacks, failures, and frustrations. The objective is in cultivating the ability to fail fast, learn from setbacks, and increase resiliency.
Creating and naming Blue Blazer Leadership Development honors the individual journey and provides support for that journey. There is a focus on setting objectives and connecting with the individual’s unique purpose to guide their journey and dream bigger than they might have dared. Naturally there is also the focus on making sure that enjoyment and fun is had along the way.
For those curious what blue blazer means, a blue blaze is a marking on a tree, rock, or signpost to indicate a side trail off the Appalachian Trail. Blue blazed trails lead to alternate routes, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, water sources, campgrounds, or any number of sights worth seeing. A Blue Blazer is an individual who, despite the long and grueling trek, takes time to get off the main path and enjoys the sights along the way.
“If you limit your choice only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise… The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.”
Robert Fritz, The Path of Least Resistance
