Breaking Out - A Summer Challenge
One of the things I appreciate about my work as a consultant and coach, is the ability to spend time on learning, developing my skills and following my interests wherever they take me, especially when it comes to reading. If I’m honest, I probably underestimated just how much of my time and energy I could spend on this if I chose to. Summer Challenge
However, to ensure I successfully manage my work and Wise Sherpa, I have learnt to collect recommendations of books, articles, podcasts etc and take the quieter summer months to consume and reflect on their content, messages and teachings.
Inevitably, this means by late June there is a long list, including a huge pile of books next to my bed, waiting to be digested. It’s a challenge that I love and dread in equal measure (as I never do finish the whole list). Crucially, I’ve learnt to challenge what I consume – and not just go for the obvious or easy, even when highly recommended by trusted sources I challenge myself to step out of my echo chamber of thought.
I particularly love it when I come across a nugget of a book – the joy I experience when I realise and then get to consume it greedily is wonderful. To this point, one of the books which I recently read and which I absolutely loved is Because – 12 Essential Skills for Connecting How You lead with Why* by Shannon Banks. In it, she includes a fascinating reference to the Human Library Project where you can borrow a human and discuss with them a challenging topic or range of topics. The idea is to move out of your comfort zone and connect with people who you wouldn’t normally connect with and whose opinions are not necessarily ones you agree with or have even been exposed to. Shannon then goes onto include in her book an exercise based on this concept. I just love this idea!
This got me thinking and so I’ve included my own exercise for you to consider . My challenge to you should you choose to accept it is to go to the library or bookshop (new or second hand, brick and mortar or online) and choose a maximum of five books – each one should be from a genre, topic or author who you would never normally consider reading. If you find reading tricky, consider doing this exercise with audio books. The idea of this exercise is to get you to experience discomfort and learning by exposing yourself to differing perspectives, breaking out of the group think/echo-chamber we increasingly inhabit (thanks largely to algorithms) and see where it takes you and even better if you can discuss the books and ideas in them with others with an open heart and mind.
It’s likely that like many of us, you have your favourite book genres, authors and topics. For me they are like putting on a warm dressing gown after a cold, wet walk – it feels comfortable and comforting. Indeed, I have just reread a few of my favourites (to add to all the new books in the pile). So, this summer, I will not only be reading my usual selection of non-fiction (typically on leadership, teams and wellbeing), autobiographies, historical fiction and travel literature. Instead, I’ve included some teenage fiction (recommended by our daughter), several books on technology and change (focusing on the opportunity and impact of ai) and the environment.
As a coach and consultant, it’s critical to keep challenging my views and assumptions and I find this true too for my clients now more than ever. It doesn’t mean you have to move away from all that is familiar, rather that you start to expose yourself to other ways of seeing and experiencing.
If you’re curious to know more about my work, I’d be delighted to talk to you so please do get in touch at rebecca@wise.sherpa.co.uk or www.wisesherpa.co.uk. Or to learn what my clients say about me, please either check out my LinkedIn profile and/or my website testimonials page.
Rebecca Hill, Founder, Wise Sherpa
PS If reading or audiobooks really aren’t your thing, you could also consider extending this challenge approach beyond the written word to music, films, sport, travel – the list is pretty much endless.
*Thank you Sarah Rose for your kind gift.
A bit more about the author –
Rebecca Hill, founder at Wise Sherpa, is an experienced respected, trusted, sought after and award winning coach, consultant, facilitator and mentor.
Her passion is working with purpose led and impact focused leaders, professionals and organisations (including start ups and scale ups) in London and internationally in a thoughtful, collaborative and considered way guiding them to successfully realise their aspirations and achieve their goals. Rebecca’s approach is highly personalised and tailored to the needs of each client which is why clients report strong outcomes and she is considered one of the best leadership coaches and consultants.
Rebecca is also an author and speaker. She speaks on a range of issues including mid-life to later life transitions into fulfilling encores, navigating major life stages from a career perspective and women’s economic empowerment to name a few.
She holds an MSc in Coaching and Consulting from HEC Paris (in association with Said Business School, University of Oxford), as well as being a Chartered Marketer and qualified coach. She has lived and worked in several countries including France, US and Switzerland and speaks several languages. In her spare time, she also sits on a number of boards and committees.
