Color Outside the Lines!
Parissa Behnia
Advisor/Coach to change agents, disruptors & visionaries so they are seen with their intention, not “in tension” | Speaker of powerful truths to powerful leaders | Advisor/Coach to C Suite & Executives | Author | Speaker
Hi! My name is Parissa. This is "Modern Badass: A Field Guide", a place for Modern Badasses to feel seen, heard, understood and respected. And, it's also a place for others to crack the code on the Modern Badasses in their lives (and maybe learn some badassery themselves). Want to receive this 2x/month? Hit the "subscribe" button above.
Hi!
Last time , I wrote about how Modern Badasses love to FITFO (Figure It The Flip Out) because there's nothing better than figuring out how to solve a complex problem. That "A ha!" moment never gets old. It's like being a Powerball winner every single time you beat the odds and came up with a brilliant solution. Gordian knots? Badasses like you have them for breakfast.
Why is this true? FITFO lives adjacent to the next trait we're going to be talking about today: you are super creative. For you, there’s nothing better than standing in front of a whiteboard and asking “What is the opportunity for us here?” You see new possibilities better (and faster) than many of your peers.
Your creativity is irresistible.
I love Modern Badasses like you. I'm inspired by leaders like you. I'm in awe of what you create and/or what you see as opportunity. I see, in my mind's eye, the outsized positive impact you have on us all now and going forward because of your creativity.
The beauty of leaning into your badassery is that you aren't afraid to "make mistakes" in these moments because you know mistakes are where learning and insight live. Mistakes are to be celebrated and cherished because the more you make, the more creative you'll become. And, who doesn't love being more creative? And, let's be honest, you don't believe there is any such thing as a mistake anyway. It's just another data point that propels you forward.
Sure, it's tempting to be literal and disqualify yourself when you hear the word "creative." You might not be a writer, an actor, a singer or other forms of a "traditional" creative. But, yes, you're super creative. You see patterns and possibilities that elude the rest of us. Your ability to connect the dots in new and innovative ways is elevated. I mentioned Sara Blakely last time. Let's consider other creators you may have heard of:
Get Messy.
Limiting your creativity is expensive. It's like setting fire to money. It's costly to color inside the lines. My Modern Badass clients grapple with this a lot. The more they color inside the lines to be "palatable" to others, the greater their creativity is diminished and the greater the cost.
Coloring inside the lines is often considered a safe route. The truth is, for Modern Badasses, safe is unsafe. Avoiding risk is risky.
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The mistake I made over and over again (and what I see Modern Badasses struggle with) was the inability to see my creativity as a feature and not a bug. I didn't recognize it as my unique voice nor did I understand its inherent value. I didn't see its reach nor its long-term impact. I also didn't know how to communicate the value of my creativity to others so as to be seen, heard and understood.
The mistake Modern Badasses make most is "regressing to the mean" and staying in the middle. It seems comfortable and easier on paper. We create reasons to stay in the middle. But the middle diminishes our power and voice.
Create your adventure!
Your outside the lines is your creativity. It's what allows you to play full out and to be fully you. What is your version of outside the lines? What allows you to be fully expressed in your leadership?
I love to coach creative leaders. Seeing them express their unique voice and make powerful contributions never gets old. The reason why clients work with me is that asking "What's possible?" and "What's our opportunity?" are some of my FAVORITE questions to ask.
And so I ask you: what's possible for you and What's the opportunity?
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Creatively yours,
Parissa
P.S. Are you a Modern Badass? Here's how we can work together:
Founder: CreateNext | Helping C-Suite + Senior Execs create Businesses beyond the Boardroom: Work with purpose and impact that you LOVE - on your terms.
2 年This is so powerful, my friend. Agreeing to any environment which stifles our creativity stunts its future growth. Sure, like a muscle it needs exercise so as to grow vs. atrophy... but, of even GREATER importance, the moment we "dial back" we are feeding a belief that we are "too much." Much like health, the battle isn't won or lost in the gym. It's done so in the kitchen. Our brain is the chef and our beliefs are the meal. Choose wisely
???? ?????????? ???? – ????????????. I support clients to create people-focused cultures and a great employee experience. Identify and overcome what is holding them back. Survive and thrive through change and transition.
2 年As you know from our conversations Parissa, I'm a creative guy. I use creativity in my work with clients where I can. I find it's a great way to get people to use parts of their brain they may not normally use in the workplace. And it encourages new perspectives and ways of thinking. It's also just fun!
I help businesses that give a sh*t ditch bro marketing and tell a brand story that's rooted in radical empathy.
2 年"Avoiding risk is risky." Louder for the kids in the back, Parissa!
Practical AI for Your Business | Keynote Speaker | Workshop Leader | Future of Work | Coined Career Agility | Spidey Sense for Emerging Trends | Agility Analyst | Author
2 年Your get messy mandate reminded me of gardening with my father. It's messy and filled with external detractors like rabbits and birds who stole the results. Getting your hands in the dirt made for a better experience. And creating new ways to protect the crop inspired creativity. Did you know that planting marigolds around your garden deters rabbits from snacking? They don't like the smell.
Everything rests on your ability to communicate. As a professional speaker and coach, I give you the confidence + clarity to create impact when you talk about yourself and your work.
2 年Love it, Parissa! I'm all for going beyond the lines.