If I Only Had....

A brain, a heart, the nerve.

Unless you started your winter hibernation early this year, you’ll be aware that the movie ‘Wicked’ released in cinemas last week.

I haven’t yet seen the ‘Wicked’ movie, but I am a fan of the book – and the 1939 movie that inspired it: The Wizard of Oz.

The recurring theme of the movie is the desire for a capability or quality the main characters don’t possess.

• The Scarecrow is seeking a brain.
• The Tin Man is seeking a heart.
• And the Cowardly Lion is seeking courage – the nerve.

If you don’t know the song, ‘If I only had a brain,’ you can enjoy the rendition – and wonderful lyrics here.

After the - at times - terrifying journey to Oz, the four seekers meet the disappointingly mortal Wizard.

He isn’t a wizard, but he is wise.

He recognizes, as they all come to realize, that the qualities they are seeking are qualities they already possessed – as demonstrated by each of them during the journey to Oz.

For further validation of their gifts, the ?Wizard awards a Diploma to the Scarecrow, who immediately recites a mathematical formula.

He presents the Tin Man with a testimonial – reminding him that the greatest good-deed-doers in the world only have the same sized heart as him.

The Wizard hands him a heart-shaped clock and asks him to remember that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but how much others love you.

And he confers on the Cowardly Lion a Medal for Courage – explaining that he had been confusing cowardice with wisdom.

Over to you.

When do you find yourself saying: If I only had….

A brain

Is there something you’ve repeatedly said, ‘I can’t do that’… ‘That’s too difficult for me.’

Fine if that really is something that requires a huge effort to gain a skill you are highly unlikely to ever use. A non-CFO would probably appreciate the fundamentals of Accounting, but baulk at the thought of mastering the complexities of Impairment of Assets across multiple jurisdictions.

But if it’s a skill that will enhance your expertise in your current role, or set you up for you next – or one further down the line, how about challenging yourself?

And even if it isn’t a skill that you will use, but stretches you in other ways, how about having a good at that? I’m never going to be an acclaimed singer or dancer, but I have performed in amateur musicals.

A heart

When preparing for a meeting, how often do you start with the figures, the strategy, the concrete outcome you want – in short, with your head?

How often do you start with the heart?

How are other stakeholders feeling about the meeting? What are they most excited or anxious about? What kind of environment, agenda flow, tone of voice do they need from you to deliver their best?

I imagine you definitely prepare with your head – which is clearly critical - but would preparing with your heart set you up for an even stronger interaction?

Especially when human beings are first and foremost emotional beings, who seek connection, belonging and inclusion.

The nerve

When do you lament a lack of confidence?

When do you hear yourself saying:

• 'Why are we skirting around the elephant in the room – ?but what might happen if I point out the obvious issue?'
• 'I’ve made an important point. People don’t seem to have grasped it. Should I try again?'
• 'I’m really interested in this project/role but I’m not sure I’d do a great job.'
• 'Should I speak up now, or wait until someone asks me for my opinion?'
• 'What if people reject me?'
• 'What if I fail?'

What if I fail?

Is the last point what the ‘nerve’, or the courage is really about?

Are there times when there’s a clear fail and it really matters?

Such as incurring a penalty for late delivery equivalent to 25% of the contract value.

Or placing a valve the wrong way round on an oil rig and causing an explosion.

Are there times when failure is a great learning and not business or life-threatening?

You didn’t get the role you applied for, for x, y, z reasons.

The Board didn’t approve the investment proposal you prepared and presented.

Any new venture brings the possibility of failure.

How can you shift the feeling of anxiety closer to a feeling of excitement and prepare your head and heart - your rational and emotional brains - to seek success?

I have…

Just like the characters from the Wizard of Oz learnt, how about switching the thinking from ‘If I only had’, to ‘This is what I do have!’

In Dorothy’s case, she is seeking her way back home.

She always had a home – and the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion are all people she knows from the family farm.

Her supporters on the journey.

Andrea Stone is an Executive Coach and Educator, working with leaders and their teams to recognize their talents, strengths, capabilities, qualities and skills and deploy and enhance their use of these to create even greater success.

? Andrea Stone, Stone Leadership