I was listening to Louis Theroux on the radio and I learned a new word- SPELUNKING. This word got me thinking, I like the way it sounds but I especially like what it means- to explore deep caverns. The activity of spelunking goes deeper than caving, it’s the exploration and science deepest places on earth.
I’m a very curious person, I like to understand things, I like to know why? Some people appreciate this about me, but others, especially my children are less enamoured, and I’m okay with that.
To me my curiosity can be both a joy and exhausting, I have to work hard to maintain my internal balance, so my curiosity doesn’t result in me feeling burned out. I’m also acutely aware of the context in which I apply it, sometimes it is not needed or welcome.
Professionally it serves me well, I use it in my strategy work in organisations, when delivering training to groups and in my one to one coaching. I ask questions, I disrupt people’s thinking, I help people see things in other ways, I get them to dive deeper, I get them spelunking.
But don’t leave it there; the next step is to invite them to contemplate various solutions and to assess whether these are feasible in their context, whether is personally or professionally, in the workplace, organisation or at home.
So, I’m just curious to know, who reading this has problems?
Do you sometimes have to deal with problem people?
Are they sitting next to you while you read this? Colleagues, partners, children...
We all have problems.
If you think about it through a negative lens, life is one long list of problems. I have 4 kids, so I know! But the problems aren’t the problem. The problem is how we look at the problem, sometimes even calling them problems
If you look at your problem though a different perspective, if you can zoom up and see things differently...as Einstein said “a problem can’t be solved at the same level of thinking at which they were created”
If you look at them through another lens, there are opportunities. All the opportunities they hold will require you doing things slightly differently. Looking at things through a different lens. Challenging your own best thinking and behaviour.
Getting out of your own way… perhaps having a brave conversation or stopping a behaviour and starting another…So mastery in your life, mastery in your career, job, or work is not the absence of problems but the mastery of them.
Do you need to do some spelunking in your organisation?
Do you need some help spelunking your own behaviour?
Is there a trait you have that needs careful handling?
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