Imagine being the best you could possibly be! You and your potential

Doug Parkin Programme Director, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education Aim of the session Bringing to life the challenge of achieving high levels of personal potential, this session will explore the types of interference that block and inhibit performance. To win the inner game requires a combination of personal commitment and the right relationships – liberating leadership can support people to address both of these areas

We all have… An innate capacity to learn A desire to be fulfilled A joy in serving others

We all have… We often acquire… An innate capacity to learn A desire to be fulfilled A joy in serving others We often acquire… Learned helplessness A concern to be secure A competitive urge to serve ourselves

Are you… Doing what you set out to do? Doing what you know you do best? Doing the best at what you do? Doing things for others as much as for yourself? Learning through doing?

Good or bad? is the worst interference Just do it! POTENTIAL minus INTERFERENCE is equal to PERFORMANCE Good or bad? is the worst interference Just do it!

Types of interference Low inspiration Self-limiting beliefs Deficit relationships Pain language

Winning the inner game Low inspiration Self-limiting beliefs Deficit relationships Pain language Carry inspiration with you Empowering beliefs Liberating relationships Power language

Carry inspiration with you Find things that actively inspire you... Visit them frequently Carry them with you all day long The singer The runner The leader The dreamer The fighter The winner

Empowering beliefs Identity Values Beliefs Think Feel Do

Empowering beliefs Identity Values Beliefs Think Feel Do Core Temporary Values Beliefs Limiting Supporting P O T E N T I A L Think Feel Do

Liberating relationships Deficit relationships Liberating relationships Cynical Reinforcing negatives Sharp, hard and sceptical Resistant and destructive Deflating Never ready Reluctant to engage Narrative of can’t and won’t Uncaring Schadenfreude Running people down Little thought for consequences Empathy Tuning-in to emotional needs Treating people accordingly Considering others’ feelings Compassion Caring and considerate Showing trust – building respect Warmth and humour Passion Joy and excitement Vision to create focussed goals Infectious motivation (engaging)

Liberating relationships Deficit relationships Liberating relationships Cynical Reinforcing negatives Sharp, hard and sceptical Resistant and destructive Deflating Never ready Reluctant to engage Narrative of can’t and won’t Uncaring Schadenfreude Running people down Little thought for consequences Empathy Tuning-in to emotional needs Treating people accordingly Considering others’ feelings Compassion Caring and considerate Showing trust – building respect Warmth and humour Passion Joy and excitement Vision to create focussed goals Infectious motivation (engaging) I wouldn’t bother. It’s a lot of work and no-one will thank you. Geoff’s new system is worse than the old one… I know it’s better than you think. Come back to it fresh tomorrow and you’ll see. It’s impressive to see your commitment to this…

Pain v power language It’s never going to happen I have to I can’t I choose not to It’s a nightmare Everyone dislikes me… It’s a disaster Jim and I need to work on our relationship To achieve it I will do… What’s the point I want to I don’t know what to do yet but… Let’s learn from what we have done so far I will come back to this later…

Pain v power language It’s never going to happen I have to I can’t I choose not to It’s a nightmare Everyone dislikes me… It’s a disaster Jim and I need to work on our relationship To achieve it I will do… What’s the point I want to I don’t know what to do yet but… Let’s learn from what we have done so far I will come back to this later…

Our ‘explanatory style’ explains so much “It’s me, it’s going to last forever, it’s going to undermine everything I do.” “It was just circumstances, it’s going away quickly anyway, and, besides, there’s much more in life.” Personalisation – when bad things happen, we can blame ourselves (internalise) or we can point to the facts of the specific situation or circumstances (externalise) Permanence – people who give up easily believe the causes of the bad events that happen to them are permanent Pervasiveness – some people can put their troubles neatly into a box and go about their lives even when one important aspect of it is suffering. Others bleed all over everything (Martin E P Seligman, Learned Optimism, 1990)

To be the best you can be… Talent – I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious Persistence – Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence Luck – Luck, the point at which opportunity and potential meet Mindset – Argue for you limitations and they will be your limitations Support – The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others

Persistence and commitment Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent (Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States) I’ve missed more than nine thousand shots. I’ve lost almost three hundred games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot, and missed

Persistence and commitment Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent (Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States) I’ve missed more than nine thousand shots. I’ve lost almost three hundred games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot, and missed Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time

Winning the inner game Empowering beliefs Liberating relationships Carry inspiration with you Empowering beliefs Liberating relationships Power language Liberating leadership

Liberating leadership Inspiration Inspires others through vision, care and commitment Tunes-in to what inspires and motivates teams/individuals Empowering beliefs Has a steadfast belief in human potential Looks to set aside self-limiting beliefs and interference Liberating relationships Uses empathy, compassion and passion as a core basis for authentic leadership Power language Sets the tone with a ‘power’ narrative that engages others

Students and their experience Motivation Relationships Environment Resources

Students and their experience Social Competitive Fellow students Intrinsic Motivation Relationships Environment Resources Tutors Extrinsic Materials Liberating leadership Physical Rich Timely Psychological Flexible Clear Accessible

Liberating potential – just imagine… We are inspired by a dream not a plan Removing interference so that people can thrive Creating organisations that people enjoy Without commitment there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back and become less effective With commitment comes certainty of action, joy in achievement/service and an awakening of potential “Whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can’t, you’re probably right” (Henry Ford)

Thank you for listening and participating Have safe journeys... in every sense But have an adventure, too!

Leadership Foundation Programmes