Leadership

Life fully loved
23 January 2022

This article is also available in the following formats:

Audio Listen Now
Video Watch the video

Leadership is about following The Golden Rule. Each of us has a responsibility to lead. The good news? It’s not as complicated as we think.

Be good to each other, and do not look beyond yourself for the leader.

Hopi elder Thomas Banyaca, Universal Human by Gary Zukav, p. 232

Be Good to Each Other

The Hopi saying perfectly describes the world I want to build, one based on kindness and love. Be good to each other is another way of expressing The Golden Rule, that is, treat others the way you want to be treated. Clear-cut, I know, and yet how often do we get caught up in day-to-day activities and forget it? Not because we’re bad people. More because we get focused on fulfilling our own needs instead of others’.

The other day I sent emails to a bunch of people about something for which I was very excited. I only got one response and felt disappointed. I moved on to other tasks and then, in the quiet of the evening, I saw photos online of what had happened that day involving all the people I emailed. Now it made sense! Of course, in my excitement to share my news, I focused only on fulfilling my own ego-based needs and didn’t consider other perspectives. They were simply busy with other activities that had nothing to do with me.

The lesson I learned? Be good to each other isn’t just an action, it’s also a thought process. It means thinking loving thoughts is just as important as behaving in a loving manner.

Do not look beyond yourself as the leader

This powerful call-to-action reminds us of our individual responsibility to lead. We can’t wait for “someone else” to direct us. We are that “someone.” The message is straightforward and direct. There’s no discussion of leadership styles or how to accomplish X or Y as a leader. We are simply being called to lead.

What does that mean? What I interpret from that statement is, don’t make it complicated. It isn’t. We often feel we can’t or shouldn’t lead (do you hear the saboteur here?) because we lack the qualifications, the charisma, or the know-how to do so. Like there’s an invisible leadership bar and we remain below it. That until we reach the level necessary to lead, we don’t have to do anything.

Imagine if each of us led something, small or big, and what a difference we’d make in this world. How can you lead? What calling do you need to heed?

The same Hopi elder, Thomas Banyaca, beckons us forth with this closing comment: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” To which I respond, I’m in.

_{Header photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash}

You have to be open minded in order to grow. The coaching that Laura gave me opened my eyes to what and how I was doing things and allowed me to see the bigger picture. I am not done yet but I already see the changes in my everyday life.
MM

I think coaching is a great way to help you clear your mind when you get stuck with overwhelming situations or when stepping into changes in your life.
MO

Coaching is life changing. It pushes you outside your comfort zone and challenges your perspectives. It is highly motivating and the exercises and techniques used are both fun and informative. I think the main benefits of coaching are to see yourself, others and the world more clearly. I think coaching is valuable to anyone regardless of where you are in your life or career.
LE

I honestly never thought I’d need a coach. I thought coaching was for CEOs and industry VIPs. I didn’t think it was for the “little guys” (i.e. me). Now, I’m of the belief that everyone – yes, EVERYONE – needs a coach. Coaching has really benefitted me and I’m so grateful to have had that time with Laura. It’s changed my life!
VB

Laura is very patient. She took the time to understand what was causing me to be stuck where I am today and help me build a better vision so I can continue to grow.
MM

I think Laura’s coaching was what I had been waiting for. Laura was so approachable, kind, and open. Her willingness to help and support made a difference for me. I found in her coaching new strategies, ideas, and perspectives that I could incorporate into my goals and objectives that I didn’t see before.
MO

Laura is an incredibly intuitive, positive and caring coach. Her techniques helped me recognize both my strengths and areas I might want to explore as I embark on the next chapter of my career. The exercises she employed were instrumental in providing self perspective and challenging my frames of reference.
LE

Laura is a natural coach. Her probing and compassionate questions helped me learn about myself: my value system, interests, goals and strengths.
LM

Coaching sessions with Laura gave me new perspectives on how to process specific feelings and situations in life. She showed me how to sit with my emotions, acknowledge them, and then use visualization strategies to move through them. I now feel more confident and in control of how I choose to walk through life.
CP

From the beginning, Laura put me at ease, creating a safe, open space for me to talk and share freely without fear of judgement. I loved the variety of approaches she used depending on the topic we were working on and it was fun being able to try out things I wouldn’t have considered before! With Laura’s coaching, I substantially grew my confidence in the workplace, overcame fears, dealt with issues I’d been carrying around for many years and, most importantly, learned to value myself and define a path forward into the future.
AG

Laura’s coaching was a breath of fresh air and EXACTLY what I needed at that point of my life. I didn’t realize how impactful coaching was going to be, but by the end of the sessions together, I left feeling refreshed, inspired and genuinely curious about what my future held for me. Because of Laura and her coaching, I believe I became a better person – someone who is more open-minded, someone with a clearer focus, and someone who is willing to explore opportunities and possibilities far more than I ever did before.
VB

I engaged Laura for coaching as I took on an expanded role leading an asset management company in Canada. As a female, I knew I would be a role model and had high expectations of myself. I was feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

In our first few coaching sessions we worked through exercises that allowed me to reflect on my purpose, leadership style and what mattered most to me. I continue to be grounded by the clarity I achieve in my coaching sessions – allowing me to be resilient and confident when challenges came my way.
OS