VIM Executive Coaching, has had the privilege of knowing many exceptional executive coaching clients. Many have turned into good friends and have taught us a tremendous amount about life.
The conversation started innocently enough: “Well, I guess I might as well schedule a virtual coaching session this week.”
“But-but…” we sputtered, “aren’t you supposed to be floating down the Danube on a wine and food river cruise?”
With that, our client let out a mighty roar of laughter. Though told to not try to hang a large picture over the fireplace, our client mounted a rickety ladder, over-extended reach and well…all the bones in the left ankle “exploded,” along with a fracture of the wrist. Emergency, orthopedic surgery was scheduled and our client was not fit to walk-up a gangplank, let alone hop-along from vineyard to vineyard. This was exactly one day before they were to join friends on a long overdue vacation.
What always struck (and impressed) us about our client was the sense of acceptance. Of course, there was great disappointment but nevertheless there was a reality check and a flexibility that astonished us.
No, we won’t tell you that something catastrophic occurred, such as a capsizing of the boat or food poisoning on stale schnitzel, but we will share that as spring gave way to summer, they went on another cruise and had a grand time.
Flexibility and acceptance
Our client had a tremendous reputation in the industry before ever coming to us. There were a few “sticky” HR matters that needed our business coaching advice. However, the basic core of decency and self-awareness that surrounded our client often carried her through the toughest times.
The level of flexibility and acceptance of what is, is directly linked to mindfulness and its other important component, authenticity. There was nothing happy about what occurred as the ladder “plunged to ground,” nor can we imagine that the surgical procedures were fun. However, by being aware and being present in the moment, the situation easily resolved itself.
We have also known clients who might have offered blame (“Your ladder/hammer/wall hook, was to blame), and we have also known clients who would have been determined to charge their way through, and in doing so, making everyone (including the surgeon) miserable. There is absolutely no percentage in either strategy. Far better to accept, be done with it, and move on.
Why is such mindfulness such a rare commodity?
It is true that mindfulness is often a rare commodity in our current society. VIM Executive Coaching has long encountered executive leaders who wanted to force issues their way or worse, to dictate an outcome that was impractical or ill-advised.
Why is acceptance so rare? Part of it, we’re afraid, has its roots in social networks or 24/7 “news” cycles, where executives will keep searching until they find someone or something to agree with them.
Then again, there are far too many opinions but far too little introspection. We might add that we see so much “seriousness and outrage” these days rather than joy and happiness at what “we have.” A lack of gratitude often leads to a lack of common sense.
Authenticity is often supplanted by posturing and silence and listening often overrun with talking and opinion. It is a bad look.
Sometimes a little humor does help. Sometimes acceptance, introspection and gratitude take us to places that river cruises can’t.