New Season, Fresh Start

photo credit: markus spiske/unplash

Spring is in the air in the Upper Midwest and in many other communities. With this new season comes many opportunities to reboot and recharge, as well as to unearth dormant roots and plant new seeds. With some planning, time and attention, new possibilities can grow from a variety of places.

So, where do you start? Whether you are an individual planning for your own fresh spring, a leader thinking about differently incorporating the strengths of your team, or an executive focused on organizational growth strategy and client impact, the launch place is the same: meet yourself and/or your team where you are and leverage what you have already planted.

Meeting Where You Are

It may be very exciting to think about what can be–it may also be overwhelming, especially if the “what ifs” are multiple or complex. To bring focus and purpose and minimize stress or anxiety, begin by understanding the current state. What cycles have served you well in the past? What tools have made change initiatives easier and more impactful? What steps have you already taken toward a goal that can be nurtured to provide a greater result? How much growth or change can you really accommodate? When gardeners begin to think about their planting season, they consider the soil, the plants that will regrow, and new seeds to sow. They think about the light, warmth and precipitation–those items needed to hasten and prolong growth. Understanding your current “lay of the land” and what you have already sewn is a great place to begin planning for this season of growth.

Leveraging What Exists

Now that you have taken stock of what exists and what is needed, it’s important to have a vision for the end result and a sense of what has worked for you in the past in similar circumstances. Have you tried to grow sunflowers but have a lack of sun, resulting in limited blooms? Unless you change the conditions or parameters, you will achieve the same end result. Instead of moving your garden, what if you plant a different flower–one that aligns with the conditions that exist? Again, leveraging what you have and what you know can work will give you momentum and confidence to try new or more expanded ideas as things progress. 

It’s also important to understand how much change or growth is reasonable. Overcrowding your garden can be as problematic as growing the wrong items. More is not always better. Being focused and tending to the items growing will result in stronger, more impactful results.

So, assess your landscape, gather your tools, develop a vision, and begin cultivating intentional change–you will likely be surprised and delighted by the abundant outcomes.

Reach out to Core Endeavors to explore how coaching or consulting support can impact your growth strategies—you don’t have to navigate growth and change alone!

Be well,

Amy and Holly