With performance management processes in full swing and the need to create “smart” 2020 priorities heightened, I have found myself setting a goal some would say only I could set, and yes, it is metaphorically perfect.
When one accomplishes a goal she sincerely thought would only be achievable 5-7 years in the future, a need arises to dream bigger and set fresh goals. Supported by many leaders, colleagues and my incredible family, in 2019, I had the privilege to travel and facilitate a leadership development course of my own design and meet inspiring budding leaders. This experience helped me to grow as a person and as a professional:
I traveled for the first time alone, setting foot in many new states and racking up flight time…a small-town girl.
After watching the example of another great training facilitator, I, too, stepped into the role of “storyteller,” as I had long hoped to, and discovered a story and a community that welcomed my vulnerability and one-time teary-eyed rendition of the tale of Immaculata’s great Cathy Rush. (Happy Centennial, IU!)
With this aspiration achieved, what’s next? Staring a blank canvas, it finally hit me. My goal for 2020 is to become the Genevieve Gorder of learning and development. I grew up watching Trading Spaces, and she was among my family’s favorite designers. Forever spunky, heartfelt and thoughtfully creative – that was Genevieve. Designing on a dime came naturally to her; she embraced challenges and infused fun into situations which could have been seen as stressful. She was living the dream of many young designers and did so with poise and a fearless courage. Genevieve unapologetically owned her talent and continued to be humble, hungry and ambitious. This combination yielded consistently fresh and innovative results, earning the respect of her team and her homeowners/clients. Possessing a keen knowledge of her audience, she used her talent in service to others with beautiful results…and much to America’s surprise, Genevieve did all of this barefoot. That was her signature.
In 2020, I look forward to continuing to come into my own as a learning and development professional, with a poised, fearless ownership and an ambition to keep learning and growing myself. While I likely will not go barefoot, flip flops seem like a viable option. Little is worse than “spinning cartwheels,” namely giving your students your all, in front of a class wearing cute but uncomfortable shoes. Since stealing Ms. Gorder’s signature would be unfair, I hope mine will become the creation of unique curated experiences that place others in the peak environment to learn, skipping over the classic awkward resistance and ineffective approaches to adult learning and plunging into the depths of effective and transformative development.
Originally published on LinkedIn
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