2015 has been quite a year for me and my coaching business with some great achievements as well as some big learning curves! What a great time of year now to reflect on the one thing that would make next year an even better year and so I task you to think about what one thing do you need to drop, think differently about or change?
One of my biggest learnings this year has been the need for me to let go of my tendency for perfection. It has become what some would term my 'overused strength'. It holds me back now, has held me back in the past and it needs to stop. There is just not enough hours in the day for everything I touch to be perfect and so I'm learning when perfect is absolutely needed but more importantly when good is good enough to help me and my business move forward.
Sometimes this means: being better at managing others expectations; other times it is recognising the law of diminishing returns and when I've done enough; and at times it's about learning when to say 'no'; but the biggest one is lowering the ridiculous high expectations I have of myself that no-one else seems to have (I am officially my own most demanding client!).
So I am approaching 2016 with some clear actions as to what that looks like in my working day, how I want to live my life and how I know that I will have been successful (less perfectionism = more blogging!)
So what do you need to drop as you go into 2016? What is holding you back that you need to let go off? What one change could make you more focused and productive.
I leave you with a Christmas poem which is what first led to me to think about this topic. WIBN is a meeting I attend monthly with a bunch of brilliant and talented female business owners who come together to support, share and collaborate. Yesterday I had 15 minutes to write a 60 second business pitch for the Christmas meeting I was attending today. A few months ago this task could have consumed hours of my time but I only had 15 mins and this was my creation. It isn't perfect but I felt it was good and I was pleased with it and I'm letting my perfectionism go and embracing my vulnerability even further by posting it online:
My name is Emma Ryan and I’m a personal development coach
As we approach the snow and Xmas sparkle Santa can certainly vouch;
That New Year can bring wonder once Rudolph’s journey’s done
But can also bring confusion as our inner elves wonders what is to become;
Of the next year and our vision of what we need to achieve
It can feel hard to plan for or maybe even believe.
So let Santa and the elves treat you to some sparkle and a new start
With some coaching sessions to create a sacksful year that from the others is apart;
We can venture to the snowy North Pole and with our penguins craft some goals
Rudolph can help lead the way showing us light over Xmas pudding bowls.
2016 is set to be a great year with a Chinese monkey prophecy
Of hard work and ambition and achievement for us all to see.
My name is Emma Ryan and I had no idea a poet could be me
So next year let me help you be the very best you can be!
I wish you all much joy and fun over the holidays and may 2016 be your best year yet! Be brave!
Emma Ryan is a life, career and leadership coach. Before setting up her coaching practice she spent many years as a HR professional recruiting, developing and managing talent. As a coach, she is passionate about empowering, motivating and enabling change in people so they can be their very best.
www.emma-ryan-coach.com
