How to Achieve the Best Version of Your Limited Self
“Let's do this!! The limited self is our goal”
Do you uplift yourself or your team members with this type of rally call? Of course not. Nobody strives to be limited. Yet, most of us are.
“Most people live in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul's resources in general, much like a man who, out of his whole organism should get into a habit of using and moving only his little finger.”
― William James, Psychologist
That's right... Most of us are walking around living and leading with a limited version of our potential.
And the interesting part is, that while we cognitively understand this, most of us, especially those, who have achieved relative success, can't see it, -- or worse, they can see it, and feel trapped.
They’re so busy in the cycle of survival, they’ve convinced themselves that they don't "have the time" to get out of a toxic cycle robbing them of their potential. Often the toxic cycle is rooted in belief patterns.
Unfortunately, organizational cultures can often allow or even exacerbate these toxic cycles and belief patterns. After all, organizations are run by humans. And if the humans in charge carry around belief patterns that create or contribute to perpetuating toxic cycles, then the whole organization suffers.
So, if toxic cycles are prevalent in the workplace, how do we break them?
How do we create workplace environments that are engaging, uplifting, and inclusive -- and how do we develop cohesive and high-performing teams where individuals thrive and truly feel they belong?
Humans AND organizations are both limited when individual talents and strengths aren’t cultivated and supported with opportunities for growth. Developing the strengths of your human leaders, optimizes your organization's potential for success. It’s a real win-win.
Here are three measures your organization can take to help people break free from their limited selves, gain greater self-awareness, and become the best version of themselves:
Develop Inclusive Leaders
Inclusive leaders are highly-self aware and understand how to bring teams together in coherence by recognizing and cultivating individual strengths and fostering a workplace culture of belonging.
They always create space for open dialog and are experts at listening. They apply their finely-tuned listening skills not only to engage those around them, but also to understand their own deep wisdom. They actively listen to their head, heart, and gut when making decisions.
Develop Strengths-Based Teams
Strengths-based teams perform approximately 33% better (Gallup).
Operating in a strengths-based culture provides a perspective that allows you to see the behaviors of others through the lens of what is right with them rather than the lens that something is wrong with them.
Strengths-based teams shift perspectives, openly inquire about each other’s needs, and capitalize on their newly named and claimed strengths leading to more authentic collaboration. And here's what happens: New ways to innovate arise. Trust grows. Confidence leads.
Develop Integrated Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your own emotions and behavior - and the emotions and behavior of others. As leaders this is a critical skill to possess - but it’s actually a benefit for everyone in your organization to possess this skill.
When people become more self-aware and in control of their emotions, they become less reactive, more confident, and generally happier. Working with others becomes easier, as does accomplishing common goals - which is exactly what you want in a team.
Once you’ve established these measures, it’s important to monitor the culture of your organization to make sure it stays healthy and toxic cycles or belief patterns don’t start to creep back in. If you keep the culture strong and supportive, you’ll grow equally strong and supportive teams and leaders.
We specialize in helping teams and organizations understand and implement practices that cultivate the power of interdependence.
The Wellsiliency™ Institute has developed a series of interdependent courses to comprehensively address the knowledge and skills leaders and teams need to build strengths-based values-driven performance cultures where all experience belonging.
Is cultivating a deliberate culture that leaves a lasting legacy of positive impact in the lives of others important to your organization?
Our institute has designed five program pillars to help leaders be well and lead well through a skill progression from Whole-self Intelligence™ integration to boost resilience and confidence, strengths-based wellbeing, strengths-based team building, strengths-based leadership, and psychological safety to unleash collaboration.
We don't believe in providing superficial programs; instead, we strive to become your collaborative partner by equipping your leaders with the skills they need to create meaningful, enduring outcomes. Our ultimate goal is to help you build a legacy of leadership excellence that will make a real difference in your organization's success.
Contact us to request our 4 page FACT SHEET to learn how our comprehensive 5 PILLAR PROGRAM helps leaders create interdependent teams and organizations.
Let’s partner to create a more harmonious and sustainable future, where cooperation and mutual support lead to thriving.