State of the Union

This is the time of year that I usually have my coaching clients reflect on the current year and consider what they want the new year to look like. Imagine if you were standing at a podium about to deliver a "State of the Union" address about the "state of your life". The audience members? Everyone and everything that makes up your life - your family, friends, finances, health, level of energy/fitness, amount of sleep you get each night, personal/spiritual growth, contribution and making a difference in the world...

Then imagine that a representative from each of these areas of your life is standing in the audience, notepad in hand, hastily jotting down your current view along with your promises for the new year.

I happened to be reading a review of the International Coach Federation conference which was held in Montreal. One of the speakers was Peter Senge from MIT. He was looking at the reasons behind the high mortality rate of corporations and identified the following four components of lasting companies:

1) Identity - who we are transcends what we do
2) Tolerance - described as being open to not knowing
3) Fiscal conservatism
4) Sensitivity to environment

As I read this, it occurred to me those four components are not just found in long lasting companies. When you consider the qualities of people you most respect and enjoy being around, you will probably discover they are mindful of these four things.

There is a quote that says; "People may forget what you did or said, but they will always remember how you made them feel". WHO are you as you move through your world? What feeling do you leave behind that speaks louder than anything you say or do?

How tolerant are you? Are you open to not knowing? Or are you holding so tightly to the right answer, your opinion, or your view of how things are, that you can't see things another way?

I would take fiscal conservatism a step farther. Where do you spend not just your money, but also your time? Do you spend wisely? Are you overdrawn? Do you continually allow others to make a withdrawal from your bank account until you are depleted? (Saying "yes" to others all the time, rather than choosing to say "no".) Are you guilty of the same behavior yourself? How often do you make a deposit in your own savings account? (Getting extra sleep, taking care of yourself, creating some quiet time for yourself, eating healthy, getting some exercise, walking outside, deep breathing, etc.) Or, perhaps you are making continual withdrawals from someone else's account?

How sensitive are you to the environment around you? This not only includes being mindful of living green literally, but living green figuratively. Have you cleaned up after your own messes? Do you leave your family, your relationships, a gathering of friends, or a conversation in a better place than it was when you arrived? If you were truly an environmentalist in your work and personal life, what things would you be doing? Not doing? What would people notice?

Are you sensitive to (and aware of) the impact you have on the people in your life? Is it the impact you want to have? If your sensitivity allows you to answer "no" to this question, what behavior or action will allow you to self-correct and get back on track?