What’s the Pattern? How Your Past Holds the Keys to Your Future

I’ve always been a bit bemused by the randomness of business development. You might nurture a relationship for ages believing that it could convert into coaching work… and nothing arrives. And then you get a LinkedIn message from someone you’d pretty much forgotten about, and a lovely chunk of work lands in your lap. As someone who worked in financial services, how come a chunk of my portfolio was working with professional services firms, retailers and media?!? Our portfolio and client list is basically a giant scavenger hunt for clues about who you are and where you’re going. And guess what? The clues are everywhere—hidden in our network, our past clients, assignments, successes, and even our failures. The question is: are we paying attention?

Mining Your History for Gold

So, think back to the clients who have truly allowed you to work in your “sweet spot”. What got ignited with those clients? What comes to the fore when you are thriving? Now think about the ones that made your heart sink. What was missing that led to a lack lustre engagement? And when you consider both sides, is there a common thread?

Chances are, you’ll spot patterns. And while it can be easy to assume that successes and failures are two sides of the same coin, often that is a simplification.? So consider which patterns illuminate the presence or absence of the same thing, and then look again, what nuances are there that hold more clues?

Time to Ask the Big Questions

In an annual review of your development it’s timely to ask those questions you’ve successfully side stepped all year – for example:

• What do people keep praising me for? (It’s probably a strength.)
• What challenges keep presenting themselves? (That’s your growth edge.)
• What do I actively avoid? (Ask yourself if you could be ready to face what you couldn’t before …?)

Rewrite Your Narrative

This isn’t just a navel-gazing exercise. It’s about seeing the themes in your life and work and making intentional choices so that you unlock your future development. Your history is trying to tell you something. What can you hear?

Perhaps looking backwards and finding patterns doesn’t chime for you – well hold that thought, two more blogs will follow offering alternative approaches.

However, if you are ready to put some time to your development?? Perhaps you’d like to access a recorded webinar “Four Blueprints for Growth” encouraging you to take a strategic approach to your development planning.? It will available on 15th January … and you can book to receive it here.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greenfields-reflective-practice-space-tickets-129774419783