~ By Alex Dugdale, ODA Leadership Group
We all have needs in our working life. Sometimes these needs are small, trivial obstacles that niggle away in the background. Sometimes, they are big, firm barriers preventing us from growth. All too often, we push these needs down, soldier on, and operate in isolation- as if we need to have all the solutions ourselves and want to avoid burdening those around us with our self-centred tribulations.
But what happens when we change this mindset? What happens when we drop these self-imposed barriers and allow others the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge with us? What could we achieve if we just opened up a little bit?
During our March Event, Fiona Sewell and Pete Canny introduced us to the concept of “Reciprocity Rings” and facilitated a brilliant series of conversations that enabled just that. During the session we were challenged to think of a professional need we haven’t been able to solve and share it with the group. These were needs such as seeking an introduction to a contact in a specific sector, help overcoming a limiting belief, or wanting to develop a specific skill.
Taking turns to share we put our vulnerability to the test, we instantly found new ideas, suggestions, guidance, and reassurance eagerly offered.
In my group we started to notice themes of imposter syndrome and self-doubt, and realised how quickly this negative self-talk fades away once you say it out loud.
Sometimes, just being forced to articulate your worries was enough to solve the problem, and the experience in the room was just the added bonus.
The overarching feedback? Despite having 40 minutes to talk, we all felt we were just getting started – feeling so much genuine benefit nobody wanted to stop. What could have been a confronting and challenging situation was eased wonderfully by the skill of the facilitators and the genuine care of the participants in the room.
This event truly encapsulated the ethos of ODA – We connected deeply, we shared rich experience, and we all finished the call having grown. They say we are the product of the people we surround ourselves with, though we rarely give this much consideration at any particular depth – if at all. These events are a reminder that by being deliberate with the people and networks around you and your interactions therein, you can unlock ideas and knowledge far greater than what we can achieve on our own.
Thank you to all who attended – looking forward to connecting with you again in the future!