How impactful are you on an average day? In your best state? When you are resisting change? Imagine your most powerful self and one almost impossible vision you hold. Taking a few moments to imagine it is how you tap into your inner power. Personal mastery begins there, and it asks a quiet question: what are you holding on to, and what are you ready to let go?
Phrases such as “let it go,” “let it happen” and “let it be” bring a certain lightness and release. They release control, judging, mistrust, fear of making mistakes, fear of making the wrong decision and fear of consequences. Behind every “let it” is an allowance to put our energy into trust and acceptance instead.
This is not passivity. It is a leadership choice, and it connects directly to how change happens. Patti Johnson names five obstacles that keep us from starting change at work and in life: fear of being wrong or inadequate, lack of accountability, assumptions about what matters and what will work, procrastination, and perfectionism. Most of them are forms of the control and fear that “letting it” releases. John C. Maxwell adds that change occurs when people hurt enough that they have to, learn enough that they want to, or receive enough that they are able to. Momentum supplies the energy for it.
Brené Brown defines a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop it. That begins with the person you lead first: yourself. Maxwell’s five levels of leadership (Position, Permission, Production, People Development and Pinnacle) describe how our influence grows, and each level asks us to let go of something. At Position, we let go of relying on the title. At Permission, we trust relationships over control. At Production, we accept that results come through people. At People Development, we release the need to be the one with all the answers. At Pinnacle, we let a legacy grow beyond us. Because we start again at Level 1 each time we lead different people, this letting go is something we practise repeatedly, not once.
Letting it also does not mean accepting everything. If you are not okay with what you give, or with what you receive, you can always rethink, relearn and redo what you “let it.” That is personal mastery in practice: choosing consciously where your trust, acceptance and energy go, and changing the choice when it no longer serves you or others.
Your next step:
- What is one thing you are holding on to with control, judgement or fear?
- What would change if you put that energy into trust and acceptance?
- If you are not okay with what you give or receive, rethink it, relearn it, redo it.
- If you want a partner for that process, connect with me for a coaching conversation and your #LIFTUP.
References
– Brené Brown, Dare to Lead, Penguin Random House UK, 2018
– Patti Johnson, Make Waves: Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life, Bibliomotion, 2014
– John C. Maxwell, 5 Levels of Leadership, Center Street, 2013
– Tanja Bogataj, How to Increase Impact by Using the Power for Change and Leadership, BrainzMagazine, 17 February 2022
– Tanja Bogataj, “Leadership in the light of power and service” (in Slovenian), Tax-Fin-Lex portal, 2018
– Tanja Bogataj, “How to lead yourself in challenging times”, BusinessFit Magazine, May 2022
– Tanja Bogataj, “Change & Grow or not to?”, Mind-stretching session, #bepowerfulandfree YouTube Channel, 2022
– Tanja Bogataj, “Just Let It”, blog reflection, #bepowerfulandfree, 30.7.2017