Running errands this week. I couldn’t help but notice a different reality. Signs of separation everywhere. Posters taped on my bank’s walls reminding us to stand 6 feet apart; big “Xs”, marked on the floor pointing where to stand as I drop off a package at the post office; people with latex gloves, face masks as I stood in line to get groceries. You could feel everyone’s fear as people backed up if you got too close. In fact, a plexiglass wall now separated the cashier from my husband at our local supermarket as he checked out. Even the pathway along the beach where I walk was closed separating me from the ocean. Social distancing had become the new normal.

A GLOBAL INITIATION

There is no escaping the enormity of the situation we face…and we are facing it together, whether we like it or not! We have entered into a global “Initiation”. As Tony LoRe, CEO and Founder of Youth Mentoring Connection, who has facilitated annual Initiation Retreats for the past 14 years states,

“An initiation in the sense of a rite of passage marks a turning point in our life’s journey wherein everything changes. A spiritual initiation ensues when a supreme ordeal occurs that changes us forever. In these times we can simply hope to just survive the difficult events and pray for a return to normalcy, which can never really happen. In such a case, we risk being shaped by fear or confusion. Or we can enter the initiation consciously and thus find greater strength and purpose for our gifts and have a say in how we are shaped.”

As a leader, you will be faced with many initiations – a life experience that changes your life forever. It’s how you open up to that initiation, find ways to creatively redirect it into a life-giving opportunity for you and your people that will define you.

An initiation sets a “new normal.” We can never go back to normal or business as usual. We’re forced as individuals, as leaders to transition into a new way of looking at ourselves, our lives, work, relationships, world. The ones who survive don’t wait for it to be over but adapt or adjust. The ones who go beyond survival to thrive take the opportunity to create new ways of living, working and being in the world. The ones who thrive long term transform their companies and more importantly, transform themselves. They look within to who they are; who they have to become to live and lead their people in a new reality, one that will better serve their people, community and transform the world for the better. These leaders navigate their people through the storm while creating a sense of unity and belonging that brings individuals together to face the CHALLENGES so people discover what they’re capable of; inspire individuals to innovate new ways of working in the world so people enhance the organization’s vision and transform their industry; help people so together they REINTEGRATE back into the community with a deepened sense of meaning and purpose for existing.

These are the stages of an INITIATION: Separation – Challenge – Reintegration

THE STAGES OF AN INITIATION: Separation – Challenge – Reintegration ­

The call to “social distancing” all over the world underscores just how prescient this initiation is in our lives at this time. As we’re physically “separated” from our community, we’re faced with the “challenge” of being with ourselves, a scary thing for many. We’re not used to “connecting” into ourselves even when we’re alone; face our fears, blind spots, patterns, even our gifts and genius. In a busy and distracted world, we rarely take time to connect within, to know ourselves. But how do we connect with and truly know and develop our people when we can’t connect with and know ourselves?

In crisis comes opportunity. Here, quarantined in your home, is a chance to discover who you are not by looking outside yourself and “doing” more things to keep busy, relieve boredom or distract yourself, but by connecting inside yourself to explore and discover who you are and the leader you want and need to be.

Leading virtually, you have the opportunity to find creative ways to bring your people together and create a sense of unity and human connection while being miles apart. While many leaders may already have people in their companies working virtually, the challenge of human “connection” remains. Connection is not connectivity or communication. Connection is how I feel when I’m with you. How can you connect with your people even when sitting in front of a screen, so they feel seen and heard by you?

Now is the time to let go of the sacred cows and take up new rituals of learning and living. Address blind spots that trip you up so you don’t keep falling into the same patterns; replace old pattern that don’t support you with ones that do; let go of controlling everything and trust and see your people for what they were born to bring into the world rather than what you expect them to be. And in the process find more balance in your life.

A CALL TO ACTION

Perhaps this virus is not the enemy but a messenger of “awakening” in disguise; a guide, to healing our civilization. After all, do we want to continue down the path of disconnection and division that lies between bosses and employees, between generations, genders, ethnic groups, between mankind and mother earth? As Jane Goodall, the famous primatologist said, “How is it possible that the most intellectual creature to ever walk the planet Earth is destroying its only home?” Maybe the message is to “wake up; stop; notice the direction we’re heading; then transform ourselves as people, leaders, human beings, otherwise, we’ll leave a mess that’ll guarantee our children will never find the “pony” buried in all the SH**!! we’ve created!”

We need leaders who’ll answer this “Call to Action” because our people, our planet depend on it. We can’t hold our collective breath and wait for it to be over; hope this will only be a momentary disruption where we come together, be kind to one another, help each other, then go back to our self-imposed social distancing within ourselves and with others. We must commit to a long-term transformation of ourselves as leaders and human beings, so we have the leadership capabilities to thrive and help others flourish in a VUCA (Volatile – Uncertain – Complex – Ambiguous) world.

So are you in?

STEPPING INTO THE SAWUBONA* LEADERSHIP JOURNEY

Let me be your guide on an exploration of an exciting new way to see leadership. These next series of monthly writings will be filled with insights to reflect upon, coaching strategies to practice that have positively transformed my clients and their organizations as they’ve gone through their initiations. By courageously jumping into your own initiation and committing to begin a journey of transformation – “The Sawubona Leadership Journey” – you might be surprised at the possibilities that unfold.

Please join our Sawubona Community. Click on the link below. I look forward to being with you on this journey of change towards a “shared future” for all human beings.

Sawubona!

Susan

* Sawubona: A Zulu greeting meaning “I see you.”

Join our Global Sawubona Community Here.

Learn more about the story behind Sawubona Leadership Here.

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