Be the best you for your groups
One of the best presents I got for my recent birthday was a metaphor.
It was the gift I’ve been searching for a very long time.
Just when I thought I found it over the years, it slipped out of my hands.
It feels like my essence. What makes me ‘me’.
This is hard to write. It feels self-centred and a little nauseating.
But I thought what I experienced when I was given this gift could be helpful for you too. Especially if you often stand up in front of a group.
Knowing who you are —your essence— and what you bring to a group, helps you to be at your best and serve that group.
So here goes…..
My clients tell me they love my energy, but I’m not a battery.
They also love my creativity, but I’m not an artist (well, not a trained one).
Some have called me a magician, but I don’t have a magic wand.
And they love my ability to ask the right question at just the right time, but I’m not a philosopher.
These are just four of the many ‘essences’ I’ve explored to capture mine.
So, what is my essence?
I’d pretty much given up when it was there, on a birthday card from two dear friends who know me well.
‘You are so like a good coffee….
You work hard - don’t mind the daily grind
You’ve got great ideas - always percolating
You do things fast - espresso speed
You love travel - bean around
You cut to the chase - good filtering process
You bring a positive buzz to any social situation - caffeine hit.’
They drew their inspiration from the gift they gave me – three bags of delicious coffee beans. Fancy ones. Expensive.
But their metaphor is priceless.
If you’re eyes are rolling with my self-indulgence, here’s the flip side. There is always one.
☕ Coffee is delicious but too much can keep you up all night.
☕ A coffee bean on its own does not make a great cup of coffee. It takes a well-maintained machine, good quality milk and a very skilled barista. A cup that’s lovely to hold is a nice bonus too.
Translation: I work for myself but I can’t create great workshops on my own. I’m nothing without my clients who are upfront and honest with me about the challenges they face.
Similarly, I can’t mentor experts if they don’t bring their most vulnerable selves to the conversation.
Here’s my tip. If you’d like help uncovering what makes you tick as a facilitator, ask the people who know you best, one question.
What am I like?
If you have a coach or a mentor, they can help you explore this question. But they don’t know you in all your dimensions like your friends and family do.
I’d love to know what your essence is and how you found it. Just comment below or drop me a note at jacinta@jacintacubis.com
🎁 SPRING GIFTS 🎁
FOR YOU
☕ Wondering how you show up with groups? Grab an espresso chat with meHERE
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Time for a spring clean?
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Weds 28 September, 12pm in my Zoom room.
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In 30 minutes we cover:
What makes a meeting boring and unproductive
What we might need to stop, start or change
It’s fast, thought provoking and leaves you with stuff to try immediately.
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