Weebles wobble...

You might have noticed that I wasn't around as much as usual on LinkedIn for a couple of weeks.

Truth is, I had a bit of a wobble.

I looked back over seven months of being a solopreneur and was unimpressed with where I was.

I have a really clear picture of who I need to work with, and why. I have deep expertise. Endless reserves of curiosity and patience as a consultant and coach. I've talked to lots of people who are representative of my target client, and they've all been emphatically clear that there is definitely a need for what I do.

So why the wobble?

Many of the people who need my expertise don't realise, or don't accept, that they need it. And I'm trying to find the right language to spark that recognition or acceptance. Knowing that there's the finest of margins between engaging and alienating this particular type of person when we're talking about allyship, equity, diversity and inclusion.

I wobbled because I realised that I’m shying away from directly addressing my target client, fearing that they’ll unsubscribe, unfollow, disengage.

Who ARE these people, I hear you cry.

Well, I'm glad you asked. They're the ones with the power to change the world. In the main (and I'm generalising here) the ones with the power are the straight, white, middle-aged, cis-gender men who fill the majority of leadership roles in the UK. They're the ones who can transform the world of work - collectively transform the world, in fact - should they choose to. And they're the ones who can decide to turn away from discussions about equity, diversity and inclusion when they feel uncomfortable or attacked. Some of them are probably rolling their eyes, feeling defensive and attacked right now. They can choose to change nothing.

Some choose not to be a change-maker because they think EDI is all a load of rubbish. They got where they are by hard work and nothing else. No advantages, no privilege, no inequity. No sirree, not me! And anyone who sees it differently is frankly talking rubbish.

Yeah, I don't want to work with them. They're a lost cause, and they'll be replaced by more enlightened Millennials and Gen Zers in a few years.

My work is with the people who DO get that change is needed, and know that they can personally make a huge difference if they choose to. The ones who don’t lean into learning and talking about inclusion mainly because they’re worried they’ll say the wrong thing, unintentionally cause offence, make themselves look and feel foolish.

Then I thought about my post a couple of weeks ago - coach like you don’t need the money. Maybe that applies to attracting clients, too. If I’m treading too carefully, diluting what I write to keep people comfortable and onside, I’m not being true to who I am or what I do.

I was never going to attract the anti-EDIers. So if they choose to disengage, fair enough. But I WILL talk honestly to the people I can help to be the change-makers of the world. And I WILL give a free, no-strings coaching session to anyone who knows they can do more, but isn’t sure where or how to start. You know where to find me.

Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down??? (Sorry about the ear worm, Gen X!)

So I’m going to stop compromising out of fear. And my question to you is: how is fear compromising your life? And what are you going to do about it?