As a new Today’s Veterinary Business columnist, I found myself imagining what I might contribute that would be meaningful, impactful and relevant in the current veterinary landscape. Researching and exploring the different topics, columns and articles from past editions, I was quickly reminded of Sir Isaac Newton’s quote: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
As I perused the pages, the depth and breadth of shared wisdom and experience culminated in a literal and delicious smorgasbord of ideas, resources and perspectives. Looking through the lens of this column, Coach’s Corner, what stood out to me is how individual words, each representing larger concepts, combined to create a rich language full of possibility.
As I recognized the collective impact of those words in the moment:
- I had a felt experience of understanding how writers evoke emotions, convey meanings and inspire action.
- I deeply appreciated how language is crucial in articulating intangible concepts such as happiness, fulfillment, resilience and purpose.
- I gained insight into how language shapes our understanding and experience of our thoughts, beliefs, perceptions and behaviors, ultimately influencing our sense of well-being.
To weave for you a small portion of one web I began to envision, I offer words such as flow, process, power, compassion, choice, authenticity, clarity, intention, balance, strengths, courage, presence, trust, community and curiosity. They form anchor points, junctions and nodes, connecting the more fragile threads of veterinary mental and emotional health and overall well-being. For me, this web is different from the one we have become more familiar with, where the focus is on burnout, busyness, judgment, uncertainty, loneliness, conflict, toxicity, resistance, scarcity and fatigue.
In my mind, the two webs are a side-by-side vision of stark contrast. I feel compelled to describe each in detail and explore their pros and cons. After struggling with how to proceed, I recognize I am on a slippery slope. I stop.
Self-Awareness Is Key
Instead of going down a road of discord, pitting what feels like dark against light, I remember that I can embrace what I now recognize to be a dialectical “both/and” mindset. When I see these seemingly opposing viewpoints coexist simultaneously, I validate them as possible and real, creating an entire spectrum of opportunities for curiosity and learning. I get to explore both perspectives and the middle ground to arrive at a deeper understanding, embracing complexity, recognizing nuance and seeking synthesis rather than polarization. For me, this ultimately creates a sense of inner knowing that one does not exist without the other. We need both polarities to know each individually and fully.
Starting With Self
The short journey we went on just now is an example of how I perceive I use imagery and metaphor to be a positive influence on my Self. In fact, when I go back to the smorgasbord of powerful words, I see a roadmap for positive self-leadership. I first heard that term during the keynote given by Dr. Jacqueline Huntly at the 2023 Physician Coaching Institute. Self-leadership is a concept described by Dr. Charles Manz in 1983 and perhaps best defined by authors Andrew Bryant and Ana Lucia Kazan as “having a developed sense of who you are, what you can do, where you are going, coupled with the ability to influence your communication, emotions and behavior on the way to getting there.”
Tied to the concept is self-mastery, which I appreciate with growing understanding and conscious awareness. Along with mindfulness and intentionality directed toward flourishing, I have become more familiar with these words and increasingly fluent in the language. My result has been a positive transformational shift in my well-being and ability to live wholeheartedly.
Coaching and Self-Leadership
When engaging with a coach, one actively participates in the journey of self-leadership. In fact, everything I have covered so far provides insight into what I have learned about the heart, art and science of coaching.
The heart of coaching lies in:
- The belief that every individual is creative, resourceful and whole.
- The compassion to be present with and relate to the whole individual through the coaching journey.
The art of coaching speaks to honoring and encouraging authenticity, creativity, agility, intuition and courage on behalf of all parties in the relationship. The science of coaching speaks to:
- The use of specific competencies to engage in a specialized conversation with tools, techniques and resources.
- The neuroscience behind neuroplasticity (our ability to change habits, evolve and transform). It creates a forward-thinking state that allows for new ways of integrating and processing, engaging in restorative practices, and managing stress.
The Interconnectedness of Self and Community
In the inaugural installment of Coach’s Corner, fellow columnist Dr. Elaine Klemmensen wrote about “Finding Ubuntu” [bit.ly/ubuntu-TVB], or “mastering community as a way of being, a mindset and an intentional practice.” That is one wonderful example as we are called to look to philosophical, spiritual, psychological and scientific traditions, practices and systems that provide insight into the complexity and interconnectedness of the human experience. There is much to be learned from these wide and varied resources and from people in all communities.
I consider myself an imperfect and committed learner in terms of cultural appreciation, humility, safety and responsiveness. The goal is, will and needs to be engaging in a way that appreciates, supports, honors and respects all people and the origin, history and cultural context of all concepts and teachings.
Language Matters
From this perspective, on the “shoulders of giants” across cultures, disciplines and veterinary medicine, we can glimpse the community we envision through the power of words and language to create inspired action. These are the foundational concepts I see as important and relevant to:
- Both: Creating community that recognizes and validates and has the courage, clarity and compassion to face a plethora of difficult realities and truths.
- And: Choosing with ever-evolving conscious awareness and intention to find and build personal and professional resources that contribute to protecting, supporting, healing, restoring and co-creating well-being.
My questions for you are:
- What words do you use to describe your current experience?
- Are those words aligned with your intentions for yourself and how you interact with others and the world at large?
- How do those words contribute to your well-being and the well-being of community?
- How do those words create a language that supports inspired action that serves you?
- How might your language contribute to a journey of positive self-leadership?
Purposefully creating a vocabulary that supports yourself, your intentions and your well-being is a great way to begin co-creating this community of possibility.
EXPLORE MORE
- Brené Brown’s Wholehearted Inventory: bit.ly/3xuuPX3
- International Coaching Federation’s Core Competencies: bit.ly/3TYiMIW