Rogers: Focus on your inner game for outer-game impact – The Ledger

By Emily Rogers Ledger correspondent

When Olympic athletes step onto a field of play after years of rigorous trainingand refinement of their technical skills, it is their mindset their inner game thatmakes the difference between the glory of gold or the acceptance of silver.

Theability of an elite athlete to focus, overcome limiting beliefs and trust their abilityto perform at the highest level differentiates them from the competition. When abusiness or community leader steps onto a professional field of play, it's the person's experience, education and track record that earns a prominent seat at theconference room table.

However, when these competencies are paired with theinfluential qualities of consciousness, courage and compassion, a field of greatpossibility is created for the leader and the organizations stakeholders.

The challenges faced by business and community leaders today are greater thanever. The pace of change makes it harder to keep up and stay relevant, thecomplexities of operating a profitable business require more focus and strategicthinking to grow and scale, and the needs of our communities are more profoundand daunting. These conditions require more than just raw talent from individuals whoare in positions to influence positive outcomes.

When I begin an executive-coaching engagement, I often start by asking thisseries of questions to create awareness of the role the inner game plays for aleader:

When youre leading at your highest and best, what are you doing (howare you playing your outer game)?

Who are you being (what is the status of yourinner game)?

And what is the impact of both?

The first question is the easiest toanswer because it is associated with the actions leaders take on a daily basisand, like an elite athlete, the technical skills acquired throughout their careers.

The second question often causes my clients to pause and say, Ive never reallythought about that. Its not uncommon for leaders to get so caught up in the day-to-day doing that they lose sight of who they are being in the process, creatingblind spots and missed opportunities. Leaders who have a greater sense ofawareness of who they are being have a greater capacity to be more intentionalabout the quality of the experience they want to create for themselves and theirkey stakeholders as they are achieving targeted results.

Like the tip of an iceberg, a leaders outer game is visible above the surface ofthe water. It is the behaviors and results that are seen and experienced byothers. Under the surface lies the vast inner game the thinking andemotions that drive a leaders behavior and, ultimately, results.What getsachieved is driven by thinking.

With greater awareness of what is lurking belowthe surface of the water comes greater choice and possibility.

Here are five ways to hone your inner game:

Pause periodically throughout the day and notice your thought patterns.Are they serving or sabotaging you and the teams you are leading?

Be intentional about the quality of engagement you bring to yourprofessional field of play. What is the emotional tone you are setting?

At the end of each day, pause for a moment and reflect on your impact.Was your impact as a leader positive, negative or neutral? What mightneed to be revisited?

While in action, slow down, be present and notice. What is needed? Howam I being perceived? What needs to shift?

Courageously step out of old ways of being that are no longer serving you,and consciously step into new ways of being that empower you and theteams you lead.

Leadership excellence is connected to the deepest part of ourselves. It is aboutdigging deeper and unearthing our best selves, even if it creates discomfort attimes.

As leaders increase incompetence, they become more effective atcompleting the tasks at hand. As they increaseconsciousself-awareness and actupon it, they become exponentially impactful and can more readily achieve theorganizations highest goals.

Grow with purpose.

Emily Rogers is an executive coach, business consultant and retreat facilitator, she strategically advises and supports organizations and individuals in growing and realizing their full potential in purposeful and balanced ways. Prior to starting her coaching and consulting practice in 2013, she advised Fortune 100 brands, professional sports teams and national nonprofits on how to form mutually beneficial strategic alliances as an executive leader and senior consultant with IEG (now ESP Properties), a WPP company. You can connect with her at http://www.emilyrogers.com.

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Rogers: Focus on your inner game for outer-game impact - The Ledger