Words of Manic Monday by The Bangles and modified by Susan Shaner. Musician: Dan Brodax.

Where can you find the magic at work today?Magic Monday is about discovering new perspectives on old problems. It’s about realizing that things you didn’t think could happen, can. It’s about being open to possibility.

My clients hire me for my expertise in leadership, executive development, facilitating high performing teams and helping individuals be more personally effective. Sometimes managing ourselves is the hardest job!Some use the word personal mastery implying that we can master ourselves. I don’t think we can ever fully master ourselves but it is in the pursuit of better managing our thoughts, being more authentic in the healthy expression of our emotions, and keeping our body healthy that we create a vital spirit – a vitality for life.

The problem is, when you are an expert, sometimes, you stop being open to wonder. You stop being curious, especially about the basics of your craft. Sometimes you can work on autopilot, or worse – make grave assumptions about people or situations because you have seen it “a thousand times before.”

The true master is a master at practice - always embracing a beginners mind, remaining curious. S/he asks the dumb and basic questions. I am struck by how often I am brought in to an organization to facilitate a senior leadership team in their planning sessions and there are many assumptions about how “everyone is on the same page.” The goals are crystal clear.

Yet when I start asking some basic questions about what the goals are or what they mean, or how they would put action toward those goals, the reality is quite different. And this is where the real work is – uncovering people’s understanding, beliefs and perceptions. This is where you sometimes need to go slow to go fast – take time out and regroup having the hard conversations. This is how you truly get aligned as a team, and it will save you much time in the long run.Having these “back to basics” conversations are so important – particularly when you are under pressure to move fast – and particularly when you think you have all the answers or are the “expert” in a situation.

My reflection question this week: Where can you be more curious in your work? Where do you need to go back to basic questions to uncover what is really going on? How does this serve you in being the expert?

At Sage Leadership Strategies, we work with successful leaders helping them grow into their next level of contribution. The outcome is more clarity, ease and confidence. If you are an ambitious, open learner, seeking or responding to, your next level of challenge, please contact us for a complimentary strategy session.