Create the Space, Invite... Allow... Awaken

Koffi Annan, recent Secretary General, United Nations said "The future of the world depends on Woman"

I know this to be true. For me I realize that women have a unique voice, a unique style of moving through the world. When a woman speaks with her authentic voice, speaking her truth, from signal # 1... there is passion and powerin her message. People see this... People hear this... People stop and listen... The message that woman is conveying will resonate with many... and in an instant the world begins to shift.

"The future of the world depends on woman" I know this, Koffi Annan knows this... Do you?

Over the past 10 months I have spent a lot of time with women's leadership... exploring leadership in general, I have become very passionate about Woman's Leadership and inviting others to awaken and become curious to the potential they too hold. This is what has driven me to speak at events, create the space to let my voice be heard, to write my articles.

For me, leadership is not about money, status, rank or position. I know you don't need any of these things to be a leaders. I don't have any of these things and I know I am a leader. To me, leading is not about being superior or having followers. Leading is about Igniting... Engaging... and Inspiring others to claim their unique sound, to know their truth and speak their authentic voice, to make a mark in their own world, however they choose.

I invite you to consider, not only your unique style of leading... but consider how much space do you create for those around you to claim their voice, to co-create with you and to grow?

This is part of my speech I gave at the Women's Leadership Learning Event I chaired for my department. On Friday Morning approximately 45 women gathered for this learning event "Developing our Leadership - Exploring our Potential". I had Cathy Carmody & Celine Burlock come into facilitate a morning of exploration based from a WEL-Systems perspective. I think everytime I listen to women engage in this context, or I read over the material, something new clicks for me. I get a clearer and better understanding of one of the models or a different way in which I can apply it.

I would have loved to have positioned myself in a different way in the room to really watch the women as some of them began to awaken. When I got back to the office in the afternoon I had 3 people stop me to talk about WEL-Systems, Huna or my expierence in all of this. I received 7 e-mails in the 2 hrs I was at my computer that followed the event. The ripples have turned to waves... the Tsunami is coming.

I am off to Oceanstone again tomorrow for another week (this time vacation/Writing Retreat), purely for pleasure, and another week with Louise LeBrun. I wonder who I will be when I return this time?

Hoping I will have to ability to post while I am there.

Women Leading by Example

I had the opportunity today to go to a luncheon with a keynote speaker talking about Public Service Renewal. The speakers name was Karen Ellis, Vice President Public Service Renewal and Diversity Branch of Public Service Human Resource Management Agency of Canada.

I had the opportunity to introduce myself to Karen prior to her talk. I could see they power, spirit, and immense being in her eyes. She is a very experienced woman who held many positions in the Federal Government, and she is a warm, genuine and passionate individual. She spoke with great passion on leadership, diversity and renewal. She seemed genuinely interested in the work I have done in the past year and is interested in reading my articles. Karen’s flight was late so it seemed she jetted in and out in a hurry, yet her presence was so powerful no body really felt she “wasn’t there”.

One of the questions asked at the end of Karen’s speech was about employees feeling they must “suffer in silence” and will end up leaving without ever feeling they had a voice (my interpretation of the question). My solution to this is to create a safe environment for employees to voice their thoughts, ideas and opinions (and environment of respect and value). When people feel they have a safe open space for them to speak their truths and know their voice is not landing on “deaf” ears, it will create an innovated, creative, proactive and motivated workforce filled with employees who are ignited and willing to engage

When you come across someone like Karen, she really ignites the room. She made me personally want to learn more about her initiatives, what she is working on, and who she is working with. The passion and conviction she spoke with were contagious (to me). I intend on learning more about what she does and try to figure out a way to incorporate it in what I intend on doing in my Department.

One thing I have come to know is that regardless of title and position I can make a difference. I hear people talking about it all the time, people like Karen Ellis today. Leaders inspire and ignite people and invite them to engage. It is important for the employees to remain engaged, communicate and interact with each other so the momentum is never lost. Continually evolving, always learning, striving for more, and becoming more.

I pulled this card today to reflect on and see how it would manifest as a metaphor for my day. I feel in retrospect it was very fitting. The contagiousness I felt while listening to this woman, the immense sense of incorporating what I heard and what I will learn into aspects of my life…

Excerpt(s) from the Power Deck – By Lynn Andrews

Quickening

You can never teach a warrior with words about the unknown; you must use experience. But if you look into the eyes of a woman of power, you may catch up with her a little. She has years of truth ahead of you. Her eyes can quicken you like a river heading toward the rapids…. …This is how power works. Don’t learn everything with your mind. Quicken your spirit by letting go of attachments and move to a stronger vibration of power.

Coffee, Coversations & Catalysts

Had a lovely afternoon with some of my favourite people. Lots messages come up for me to pay attention to.

Celine was talking about something this afternoon and a big wave came up in me. I am being my authentic self at work and this is good. Yet at home I am not fully engaging in my life, not yet fully stepping into my SELF.

And what am I waiting for? What if I wake up tomorrow and my world has completely changed? Will I have regrets that I didn't authentically live my life with my family? Will I regret taking for granted the notion of there is always tomorrow? Why am I waiting?

When I am at home I am still my "culturally conditioned self" to some extent. At work people can really see the changes in me because I have no worries about living it. Why am I still afraid to decloak in front of my family and friends. What is still going on within me that I am not processing, that I feel the need to keep myself small in front of those I claim to love the most?

Many questions for me to consider. And there is always more.

Thank you to those who came to my Coffee event today, your questions, stories and presence has again invited me to become curious about myself.

I have much to reflect on and discover... am I willing to decloak in front of my family? The answer is yes...the question is when...

Witnessing the Power of a Woman

Today I had privilege to witness the power of two different women. How amazing it is to see it from someone else. When they finally stand raw in front of the world to see.

One woman was so clear on her true intention, clear on what she was not willing to put up with anymore and stood in all her magnificent glory to say "I am worth more". And then she acted on it. I was in awe... I still am. It was as if she filled the room when she told me her story. I still have Goosebumps thinking about her absolute power she claimed today, knowing all along it was in her (as it is in each of us) and having the honour of watching her come home to herself. I just can't do it justice with words. And if you are reading this (which I know you will) never again forget the feeling you experienced today... keep it with you for it is your own majesty that is your authentic self.

The other woman whom I had the chance to witness today... she finally found the power of her authentic voice. She had the opportunity to trust herself and voice her authentic voice and experience the brilliance with in her Self. She feels more empowered because of this and I know she is coming to awaken to her own potential and is trusting that her Self, her inner self, signal #1 will not steer her wrong. It is going to be awesome for me to see her fly, and fly she will… she is already unleashing her wings.

Speaking with her later on in the day she talks about how freeing it would be to be a child again... with out any of this culturally conditioned self to have to worry about... how fantastic is that? To feel once again that we can conquer the world, that we are absolutely able to shape our destinies, and be curious about everything again... to play.

And who says we cannot have this again? I know we can, if we choose it, own it and live it.

Quite the powerful day after a draining week. Just being in the presence of these women as they discovered and found their true selves has served as a great recharge for me.

Coffee Conversations & Catalysts is this Sunday (Nov. 5th) at 1p.m. If you are interested in what this might be or if you know what it is and need more details... drop a line and I'll fill you in.