To Suceed means to be Open

As mentioned several times in the last few postings, in my review process of Theory-U I am learning new vies and approaches about leadership and what one can or should do to become more successful. In his book, Otto Scharmer actually points out that several successful leaders know at least parts of this process, while their organizations are mostly still stuck in the methods of the 20th century. I see this same phenomenon all the time when speaking with my coaching clients.  They are working on their self-improvement as a first step to in turn help their organizations modernize.

U-Theory speaks of three components of openness:

1. Open mind
2. Open heart
3. Open will

Otto Scharmer describes these three as follows:
“Open mind is based on our ability to access our intellectual, or IQ, type of intelligence. This allows us to see with fresh eyes, to deal with objective figures and facts around us. As the saying goes: the mind works like a parachute: it only functions when it is open.” (Scharmer, 2007, p.41)

This is the area where we use our knowledge and experience and hopefully some systematic approach. A lot of modern science is almost exclusively living in this paradigm.

“The second capacity, the open heart, relates to our ability to access our emotional intelligence, or EQ; that is our capacity to empathize with others, to tune in to different contacts, and to put ourselves into someone else’s shoes.” (Scharmer, 2007, p.41)

AMC has access to an assessment instrument called EQI, developed by Ruben BarOn to measure emotional intelligence. The aspect of putting yourself into someone else’s shoes is something we try to encourage our coaching clients to do. Some have trouble, especially when they are very skeptical in nature, or very focused on themselves through self-defeat or self-consciousness. Exercises we offer can be a good help to overcome fear and stress and open up the heart and the emotional being we all have inside ourselves.

“The third capacity, the open will, relates to our ability to access our authentic purpose and self. This type of intelligence is also sometimes referred to as intention or as SQ (spiritual intelligence). It deals with the fundamental happening of the letting go and letting come.

We can tune each of these three instruments on an individual (subjective) as well as on a collective (intersubjective) level.” (Scharmer, 2007, p.41)

In my practice we try consistently to work on the individual level, although I hope to get to the point where individuals with the experience of some self-improvement through coaching will actually move to the collective level in group events.

The open will that Scharmer describes appears to have a direct connection with what we teach and coach about ambition, motivation, and confidence. When a person is mainly focused on what others thing about him or her, and how to behave and act to make the world around them happy, the inner self is taking a back seat, almost disappearing.

By rediscovering who you are, what you can do, what your goals and intentions are, the inner self and the spiritual intelligence in reappearing. It is important, in my mind, to realize that three open parts of our being do not occur or exists independent of each other. They are present and important all the time and together.

We want to find ways to be aware of their existence, but also how we can change and improve ourselves to take full advantage of our capacities in all three areas. For that goal, we look to improve our interpersonal and relational skills to learn how to tap into our emotional side without feeling vulnerable or awkward. We want to use our knowledge and experience in a systematic and coordinated way, rather than being frantic, disorganized, and under stress, especially when we are responsible for other people, who look for our guidance and leadership.

For the open will, and the ability to let go and let come, we help to strengthen ambition in a healthy combination with confidence. This allows you to be calm, collected, ready to receive what develops and actually recognize when something new emerges. This recognition goes hand in had with awareness we constantly teach our coaching clients. When you are aware of your state of mind and body and willing to let go and let emerge, you can do amazing things and feel really good about it at the same time. This feeling of joy and accomplishment turns success into an emotion, and not just the material manifestation of achievements.

If you feel inspired to try it, you can go to www.meierhoefer.net/welcome.htm and discover your own profile or get a free report as a first step toward self-improvement and a successful career. At AMC we stand ready to help you through our coaching process get to your goals faster and in more depth.

I hope to see you there very soon

Axel Meierhoefer, President AMC LLC