Thinking Partners News

Hey, it's Ken again! Below is my 2nd newsletter in 2022. I hope you find it inspiring, informing, and enticing.

In the absence of hundreds of 1:1 conversations, this is my way of sharing, and staying connected. I invite you to subscribe, share with friends and comment.

Now, onward

What will you find here

I’ve organized my newsletter by 4 key principles of my coaching for individuals and teams. 

What Inspires Me – Thoughts to kindle our hunger to make a difference in our world. 

What I’m Feeling – Insight into emotions which give connection to ourselves and the world. E-motions are literally what motivates us to be “in Motion”. 

What I’m Thinking – Leaders lead through conversation. Transformation requires conversation. Masterful Leaders knowingly use language to coordinate action to shared goals. 

What I’m Doing – Leaders dignify to their words with focused action. I give an update on my “Doings” and invite you to join me. 

What Inspires Me 

"Often we either don’t plan at all, or we get caught up in obsessive planning because we fear the future and its uncertainty.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh 

What I'm Feeling

Uncertainty

I have moved to a new understanding and "relationship" with the emotion of uncertainty. Reflecting on the past I'm recalling when my "risk manager" energy was very strong. 

I was an expert at delaying decisions. The risk of lost opportunities wasn't fully considered as I feverishly tuned and retuned the perfect decision. 

A collegue and I would joke about how I was starting "hand wringing" conversations. 

I was gifted a T-Shirt years ago with the words echoing the ever fearful energy of Scotty, the chief engineer on Star Trek " I need more data..."

On deeper reflection and self undertanding, I now believe my real reason for being "frozen with uncertainty" was I was afraid others wouldn't approve of the decision at hand. 

You see, I am a masterful consensus builder, a skilled facilitator who brings out the voices of the entire team and the stakeholders. 

As long as they are mostly in agreement. 

I've since learned (ok, still learning) to embrace the uncertainty of how others will react to my decisions and actions. To embrace the wisdom and possiblity that will unfold when I lean into potential conflict. 

Now I know others have different ways of dealing and not dealing with uncertainty. The beauty of working with a team is the unfolding of the parts who create a whole that is far more than the sum of the parts. 

I've learned to appreciate the friction and the heat generated as the "parts" rub against each other. 

One possible approach is to back away from uncertainty. To "lean" so far from uncertainty that we give away control of our lives; we lose the opportunity to be the author of our future. 

This abdication of our opportunity to move forward with uncertainty shows up in how we make decisions. Or in this case, how we let others make our decisions for us. 

Giving our decision making away makes for great drama and music, but it's not a way to create the Future you want.

Should I stay or should I go now?

Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go, there will be trouble

And if I stay it will be double

So come on and let me know

Should I stay or should I go (Lyrics) 

The Clash (Live performance)

Imagine the difference it might make if you thawed out from being frozen with uncertainty. 

I invite you to explore the topic of uncertainty at the upcoming Learning Lab and Watercooler Break.

What I'm Thinking

How would a person "embrace uncertainty"? 

I'll offer an exercise that helps to uncover what is uncertain and what is certain for us. 

Uncertainty: The gift of uncertainty is the gift of possiblity. The possibility to influence the outcome of the uncertainty. The freedom that comes from relieving ourselves of the need to control what is uncontrollable. Embracing Uncertainty means we embrace change, an outcome that lies beyond what I might have envisaged or even desired. Uncertainty lies in the future (we don’t know what will happen) and the past (we are open to different interpretations of what did happen). What is uncertain will unfold slowly or rapidly. 

Certainty: The gift of Certainty is the foundation from which to make a choice. Certainty brings us to the present moment, our truths. Full mindful, engagement with what is certain, brings us connection to ourselves and our relationship to the world; full recognition of what is and what is not present. What is certain can be certain forever or could possibly change, but that change will likely be at a slow pace. 

This exercise is to identify what is certain and uncertain for you. Create and fill out a table similar to the one below. Try for 20 areas where you are certain and uncertain. 

Create a declaration to embrace certainty and uncertainty. Mine goes like this: 

I embrace what is certain and uncertain for me. I find meaning through my exploration and definition of what is certain. I choose my beliefs, language, actions and inactions to wisely influence what is uncertain.

I'd love to hear how this exercise supported you (or not).

What I’m Doing

I’ve committed to being more visible in the world. This shows up with more posts on Linked In, more free events on Zoom, more outreach (like this Newsletter), and more invitations for conversations that matter. 

I’m excited you are here reading about this journey and hope you choose to join me in some way. Here are some opportunities: 

VIP Fast Start One-on-One Session: I’m offering a limited number of heavily discounted half day sessions designed to deliver an actionable, focused personal leadership plan for the next year. This offer expires at the end of January. Learn more here.

I completed a very satisfying VIP session last week. The outcome was that the client left with a clear structure and vision for developing an impactful, inspiring planning session with his team of Changemakers.

Watercooler break: Yes! The more casual conversations we used to have in the breakroom. The meeting after the meeting. The conversation where you learned what was really going on. 

These sessions are not to talk about the weather or the game last weekend. I will bring a relevant, impactful topic and que up a conversation about what matters to leaders. You can sign up now. 

Watercooler Breaks are on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 Central Time Register now: 

February 10 - Topic: Enneagram Personality Styles and Uncertainty

March 10 - Topic: Empathy AND Delivering Results (Mark your calendar, the registration link coming soon)

Thinking Partners Learning Labs: The next one is Thursday, January 27 at 12:00 to 1:00 Central Time. The topic is “’I love Uncertainty,’ said nobody ever”. Register here for this Learning Lab. 

Linked In: I’m posting and interacting frequently on Linked In. I invite you to come see what I’m doing here. For all Linked In’s claims to be a “connecting app”, it can only happen when posts turn into comments and conversations and shared insights. 

If you are so moved, know that I love to receive recommendations and endorsements on my Linked In page.

Sincerely, 

Ken Roseboom 

ken@thinkingpartners.com

I partner with successful leaders to increase their influence, deliver extraordinary results, and create meaningful change.

Authentic Executive Presence ⎜Emotional Fluency ⎜Powerful Communication ⎜Teams Working Better Together