Yesterday I had a final coaching session with a leader, after working with them for 6 months, and they said this when we were reflecting on what’s been powerful for them to learn:

“No one is coming to save me.”

That was just one of a few profound things they said that struck me, because it’s true, as a leader, as a business owner, as a professional of anything difficult, there’s no cavalry coming.

YOU are the asset, YOU are the gift, you are resourceful enough to solve your own problems.

It might take you realizing that when you are most present and centered, answers come to you more easily. That’s why people say “I always have the best ideas in the shower.” For this leader, it’s long, long walks where everything unravels and falls into place – it’s so clear, and planned, and feels easy. They knew how to solve their problems – go for a walk, and things don’t feel as hard, answers come, stress comes down.

When you let go of hoping that someone will come along and save you, it can bring a calm and confidence you’ve never felt before, or haven’t for a long time. For some, they feel more comfortable entering a room without all of the details, without the answers. Others might feel more capable of suggesting things that they thought were off-limits.

And how did that leader eventually feel through lots of practice and strengthening their own agency?

“I’m locked in.”

Sure, there will probably be drifting from that feeling at times, because, well, LIFE. But showing up every day as a leader or a professional of any kind with that reminder, “no one is coming to save me”, could draw out the resourcefulness that’s been hidden or dormant.

Let it out.

See you in 2 weeks!

---

Here are a few resources that I’ve found interesting and have been sharing with clients:

1 // Want to become more coach-like as a leader? Stop solving your team’s problems for them. (5 min read)

2 // Is the goal to be “overappreciated”? (1 min read)

3 // Should this be a meeting? (1 min read)