Clarity is a choice. Many people don’t realize this. Or understand that we have the ability to cultivate it….and even shrink it. Personally, I’d like to get adept at the first.
Increasing clarity comes with asking good questions. Clarity helps us get to where we want to go. It is the GPS for our journey. Without it, we are lost. We risk living life adrift. And remember, we don’t drift into the life we want. It requires intentionality.
I was able to witness this recently in my work with a young leader going after her own clarity. She was feeling insecure in her new advancement because she was younger than the people she was leading. Ahh yes. Every leader has experienced this at some point. It was important for her to know why she was qualified to lead. She had some level of understanding around her skill-set and expertise, but she needed more. Her action step? I suggested she go ask her supervisor why he had selected her.
At times, we all need clarity when it comes to new adventures. Some of the insecurity we feel is about understanding our purpose and qualifications. Whether it’s a new job or a new relationship, we all need our clarity on why we are being selected. Don’t be afraid to ask. Understanding this gives us what we need to keep moving forward with a clear direction. Knowledge is power. And it is this power that allows us to set the course we need to get to where we want to go.
On the other hand, avoiding the steps required to get clarity costs us. I have watched too many people avoid having a much-needed conversation (myself included) and then suffer the consequences of that avoidance…Confusion on the team. Misunderstandings in the relationship. A general lack of motivation and purpose that causes projects to drop and people to disengage.
It was inspiring to watch this leader go after her clarity. It reminded me of the old story of when Peter walked on water. When fear paralyzed him, he began to sink. But his clarity came when he remembered what he wanted and reached out to someone he could trust. We get to do the same.
Go after your clarity about knowing where you want to go and who you get to trust along the way.
This part of success includes lots of failures, but failing doesn’t make YOU a failure. It’s just part of the process of going after your dream.
Keep learning and growing as you stay curious and humble.