In my previous article, I discussed intention -- the reason and motive behind whatever it is that you do. After you identify your intention, the next step is to begin leading with your intention. In order to begin there are two important steps for this journey. The first is being aware of changes in your life, which I am directing to be positive. The second is communicating your new processes of leading with others.
The first step -- being aware of change, even just a miniscule adjustment in thought or behavior -- will have you beginning to lead with your intention. I'd like you to begin with a practice called measuring. This is a way of tracking your daily intentions and their outcomes. It is very difficult for us to think about walking around all day with a notebook and pen to track our intentions. However, with smartphones' reminders, calendars, and notes we can easily use these devises to measure change. When using the calendar for example, in anticipation for an upcoming meeting, an hour prior (or if you are really proactive up to a full day before) set an alarm asking questions regarding your intentions. Such as, why you're having this meeting and how it will result?
Questions to consider before meeting:
1. Are you prepared?
2. Have you communicated with key people?
3. Do you know what you want to get out of this meeting?
4. Do you know what others want to get out of this meeting?
Questions to consider after:
1. Did you complete in a faster time?
2. Did you delegate?
3. Did you cancel this meeting because it didn't make sense?
4. Did you ask questions to better understand?
All of these questions are pertinent to leading with intention. It is about our own abilities to discover, communicate and accomplish your own intention.
Once you have an understanding of your process, the second step begins. It is your responsibility to help others you are interacting with understand your process. I often find myself carrying along in my own process while others don't understand my new approach, and that is not my intention. So my advice is that you sit down with your team members, family members or whoever it is you are interacting with and very quickly give them an understanding of your new way of being. Ask them if they understand what you are delivering and let them know the recognition that you will need.
There are very simple questions to ask for recognition:
1. Did you receive my intention?
2. Did you like it?
3. Did it help you?
4. Would you want me to lead with that intention again, and/or can we work together in developing a compromise?
These four questions will garner the recognition that you want, express that you are taking what you do seriously and show that you have self-respect. I find that when people are confident and clear in what they need, I am professionally drawn to that individual. I know what they want from me, I know where they are coming from and I trust them instinctively. They have questions and they ask for me to respect their work. I trust we are going to get the project done.
Next is the guide to applying your intention for both your personal and business life.
For more by Clare Munn, click here.
For more on GPS for the Soul, click here.