My Theme for April is GROWTH!
I absolutely love the month of April. The snow starts melting and visible signs of spring are popping up everywhere. Here’s a picture of the hot pepper garden my husband is growing in our sunroom. There is something so fun about watching the physical growth of seeds into plants that produce food.
The other thing I love about this time of year is it gives us a chance to pause and look forward into the next three quarters of the year.
My theme for April is GROWTH!
Growth is such an important concept in what we do as coaches. We are all about helping others lean forward towards their goals and dreams. We help them see differently through reflection and the impact they are making. This stirs up positive energy for us. It’s why we do what we do. We love helping others step into their fullest potential.
But we also have to pay attention to our own growth as Coaches. And maybe get a little vulnerable about what that means for us.
Here are a few questions to ponder about your own growth:
What are some ways you have grown in the past year?
Think about where you were in April of last year. What have you stepped into that has pushed you out of your comfort zone? What hard stuff have you taken on? Maybe you made a big leap in your life - like retirement, or a new job, or starting your business. Maybe a life event caused you to adjust your perspective or step into your fears. Reflect and ask yourself; “How have I grown from these events?” and/or “How am I different than I was last April?"
How are you measuring your own growth?
It is easy and common to attach business growth to personal growth. We help our clients see the difference between what they do and who they are, so it is no different for us. Are you measuring your growth as a direct result of your business success? If so, dig a little deeper. What personal characteristics have you cultivated? …. Resilience? Perseverance? Self-awareness? Compassion? Tolerance?
Where can you grow next?
Spring forward. What is ahead for you and where do you want to be intentional about in your development? This may be a new skill you want to learn, a new tool you want to master, or tackling an issue which is holding you back. Be careful of chasing the next shining object for a solution. Discern well and remember, growth is an inside job. Whatever commit to, do it with discernment and intention. Then blossom into where you are being planted and produce great fruit!
Happy Spring Coaches. May you grow, prosper, and make great impact!
Sincerely,
Dorene MacVey
President, ICF Iowa Chapter