Scott K. Wilder Journal Entry #2
Recently, I lost a suitcase while
traveling from Washington, DC
to New York City. I lived for
several days on borrowed clothes. During this time, I tried to be present and
not worry about when I would get my bag back. I just let it go, so to speak.
After the third day, I then had to fly to San Francisco.
Due to traffic on the FDR drive along New York’s
Hudson River, I arrived at the airport just before the
doors closed to the airplane. Ironically, if I had my suitcase I would have had
to check my bags, probably missing my flight back to California.
I had to make that flight because I had to give a presentation the next morning
to fifty people at the Marriott Hotel near Union Square. Interestingly enough, my personal
possessions almost slowed me down. I learned two lessons from this ‘baggage:”
1) personal possessions can slow you down and 2) living in the moment can
enable you to enjoy life more.
For the
last sixty days, I have felt tremendous growth. I have learned to be more
present, to participate more in meetings, to be more assertive in my coaching,
to trust my instincts in integrating somatics into my coaching and to apply
Team Coaching models to my work at Intuit. Being present and participating more
in people’s lives and in meetings are closely integrated.
There are many reasons why I
enjoyed last week’s Team Coaching workshop. It has to do with more than just my
strong interest in working with groups of people. During the class I tried to
be more present. I went into the class with a specific game plan, which I have
to admit was challenging for me at times to maintain. I tried to face my classmates
when the asked questions. I tried to be open in my posture as if their words
could splash against me like ocean wave. It is easier become present if I
understand what is required somatically. I need to physically face the person,
to look at their eyes when they speak and listen more attentively. I am
learning that the deeper you listening, the more present you are, and the more
authentic.
Similar to Caillet’s Thinking
model, my intention to be more present and participate (my thinking) gives me
the Feeling of a more fulfilling workshop or session with my clients. Similar
to Maslow’s Self-Actualization, I want to make the most of my own abilities. As
a coach, I want to coach to the best of my capabilities. I can only do this if
I am present, which enables me to be authentic, spontaneous, and creative in my
work. For years, I wanted to help others in some capacity. My work at
Georgetown is getting me closer to that goal, which I need to accomplish if I also want to
feel close to others and truly appreciate life. One of the big challenges for
me, however, is not to judge people. Once I do this, I create distance, which
means I become more of an observer in their life rather than a participant
I have taken a new position at
Intuit. What once was a skunk works extra curricular project, has become my
full-time job. The CEO asked me to head up my divisions (QuickBooks) new
offline and online community initiatives. During the building of a new team, I
have been using the Performance Plus International’s Team Life Cycle model. It
describes the first phase, the birth phase, when I am working on identifying the
team’s purpose, roles and responsibilities, and where it will finally end up in
the organization.
Last night,
I dreamed that my old team of direct reports at Intuit participated in my 360
degree review. Viola, the toughest critic in the group, commented that I had
recently become a better listener, that I was able to go deeper in our
conversations, and appear more empathetic. I have always believed that my
dreams remind me of what is really going on in my little world and where I need
to focus my energy. Between my dreams, loosing suitcases, and other events in
my current life, I feel as if a new world is opening up to me. Sometimes,
though, I am afraid to trust the forces of nature. I am afraid that believing
too strongly in something might ruin it. I am afraid that I might jinx things.
I know that I have to overcome whatever ‘archived’ thinking is creating this
doubt. I know that if I focus on the mechanics of the thought – and not worry
about negative aspects and think about the positive aspects of believing that
everything will work out. As Lao Tzu stated “As soon as you made it a thought,
laugh at it” I want to laugh at it and just let it go. If I am more open to the
unknown, I actually feel better physically. Knock on wood, for the first time
in a while, my back has less pain. Up until now, I have been more of a
team facilitator vs. a team coach when working with groups at Intuit. I am
looking forward to becoming more of a coach, which will require a deeper level
of concentration and participation.
Online Communities, Leadership, Teamwork, etc. 