#AUDACITY LOOP TRIAL#

Such honesty and humility not only reflect a degree of openness and transparency but often signal a willingness to grapple with changeвЂ¦and may ultimately be liberating for self and others.

#AUDACITY LOOP TRIAL#

A quote by the early 20th century British actor, George Arliss, resonates with my conception (or vice versa): вЂњHumility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life.вЂќДЇinally, to be able to share this humbling, trial and error learning with others or to take off the вЂњI know whatвЂ™s bestвЂќ or the вЂњCorporate VIPвЂќ power mask in public can be both daring and daunting. And within the appropriate temporal and contextual bounds, such a leader is not afraid to express genuinely such вЂњhead and heartвЂќ variability. Clearly, this multifaceted вЂњselfвЂќ is infused with both a sense of vitality and vulnerability. Conversely, one may need to challenge or risk going over the line to discover that fine edge or to push those вЂњtried yet no longer necessarily trueвЂќ boundaries.

The вЂњsadder yet wiserвЂќ individual-leader appreciates the fine line often dividing vision and hallucination, and reins in unbridled exuberance with some focused reflection and feedback. Those humbling life lessons may prove an antidote to an audacity spiraling (and viraling, to coin an action verb) into arrogance. From my вЂњhumbleвЂќ vantage point, вЂњtrial and errorвЂќ and вЂњhard-earnedвЂќ humility reflects and hones an ego into a more mature and confident as well as more open to questioning, self-identity. Of course, вЂњhumilityвЂќ is also associated with вЂњmeeknessвЂќ and вЂњlowliness.вЂќ However, regarding вЂњpsycho-semantics,вЂќ IвЂ™m primarily concerned with a more complex and developed notion of humility.

As weвЂ™ve noted, these terms border on if not occasionally crossover into вЂњaudacityвЂќ territory. вЂњHumilityвЂќ connotes a вЂњlack of vanity or self-importance,вЂќ while antonyms include arrogance, assertiveness, egoism, pretentiousness, and pride. First, IвЂ™ll contrast вЂњaudacityвЂќ with the word вЂњhumilityвЂќ and then, paradoxically, meld the two. (Of course, some leaders try to cover up their lack of knowledge, skills or meaningful experience with Wizard of Oz like smoke and bluster.) In addition, audaciousness can also morph into вЂњinsolence,вЂќ that is, вЂњheedlessness of (such) restraints (as) prudence, propriety or convention.вЂќ No big surprise for a вЂњrisk-taker or daredevilвЂќ (common synonyms of вЂњaudacityвЂќ), especially one with inflated self-importance.ДЄnd this brings me to a daring turn of phrase if not a 180 degree conceptual turnaround regarding a critical yet often overlooked facet of leadership. And I suspect many folks would associate or use these words to describe a powerful leader. When you think of the phrase вЂњcommand voice,вЂќ what comes to mind: words like authoritative, firm (if not loud), perhaps self-assured, knowledgeable, compelling, focused, direct and forceful? And if we push the semantic envelope maybe even вЂњaudaciousвЂќ which, according to, means: fearless daring, (being) intrepid, and bold. Hood these last few years, one not so distant experience helped me feel pretty comfortable with this вЂmilitaryвЂ™ audience: IвЂ™m a former вЂStress and Violence Prevention ConsultantвЂ™ with the US Postal ServiceвЂ¦ So I am battle-tested!вЂќ) AnywayвЂ¦ However, I did start my presentation by sharing that, вЂњIn addition to my work at Ft. (Actually, I was a clerical specialist in the Army Reserves over thirty years ago hardly a вЂњcommandвЂќ presence. Hood (and had recommended me as a speaker) reassured the audience, вЂњDonвЂ™t worry, the Stress Doc has a вЂcommand voice.вЂ™вЂќ And of course my ego if not my heart skipped a beat. As I called out, вЂњCan people in the back hear me?вЂќ a former Sergeant Major who knew me from my work at Ft.

Hood, TX or presently stationed overseas. Most of the 50 + particpants were ex-military, now contractors working with commands and brigades based at Ft. The program was for managers of a global engineering company. Just before the start of a вЂњStress, Change and Creative TeamingвЂќ workshop, I was testing out my microphone.

Audacity loop