add your touch
Last week, I had one of my final coaching sessions in the Kinder Registered Life Planning Mentorship program, and I mentioned how I’m working on finding a balance between following the process and trying to emulate our lead instructor, who I admire his pace, ability to ask amazing questions, sit with silence, and empathy. I find my Self in meetings trying to be more like Louis but staying true to my authentic Self.
I had a great conversation with the other instructor during my coaching call on the topic of putting my touch on the process, and the long story short is that there are certain aspects of Louis’ way of running a life planning meeting that I should adopt and get better at, but there is value to my clients that I bring the authenticity to our meetings that makes me the best planner for them.
For example, one of the areas I’ve been working on pulling back is providing ideas to try to help clients
find their vision–the goal of life planning is to stay out of the way and allow the client to find their vision and design their authentic life. But, sometimes people need a little help and I do believe I have a gift of listening and being able to paint a picture of what might be to help clients begin to see their vision.
If I followed the process exactly as it is written, this would not be part of it, but I will give myself the freedom to read each situation and tap into my strengths when necessary. There’s a reason I have this gift.
I’ll be me, but I will not rush to use my strength until it’s necessary. I need to give more time and space for my clients to really look within before sharing the vision I received listening to them. I need to add my touch to the process.
My touch is what allows me to be the best planner and coach for one client while not being the best for another.
Don’t be afraid to bring your touch to things in your life–your work, your hobbies, or anything else you do. Whatever your “touch” is, there’s a reason you have it, and it’s not to keep it to your Self.
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
