No more burden of carrying big challenges alone.
How to build a SQUAD
In 2010 I was invited to be part of an experiment. An experiment that brought a small group of brilliant women tech executives together to explore and act on the idea that we needed a unique professional platform to make it to the next level. The experiment was life-changing and has become an annual program full of insights and surprises.
One of the biggest surprises was the realization that while people surrounded me, I was incredibly lonely. Like many in executive roles, while I had friends, I didn't have friends who also understood the kind of pressure I was under or the strategic decisions I needed to make daily.
The experience became my antidote to professional loneliness.
I've spoken about this idea with lots of people. Often I've seen the look of recognition and a sigh and a sentiment of, me too.
If this sentiment also resonates with you, I challenge you to channel your inner Cinderella and build a squad for yourself.
Why? Because I became a better leader and decision-maker. They bolstered my confidence. They gave me insights and perspectives on questions I often couldn't ask others. And mainly because doing the same for them helped me see how to be a better colleague to my peers.
There's an experiment below. Why not give it a try? Deep and powerful relationships = No more loneliness
EXPERIMENT
Identify 5-6 people who meet the following criteria.
They inspire you.
You're ambitious for them.
They've shown to be curious about you and what you're doing.
Invite them to participate.
Where? - Is it easier on Zoom or in person? You choose.
How often? - Start with 1 meeting per month and take a break in August & November. Keep December for a little celebration.
Why should they join? Because you are experimenting with busting professional loneliness and thought they might be interested.
What will you do? For the first 3 months, you'll drive the conversation; after that, each person will take turns asking a question of the group.
What are the first 3 questions, and why? The first step in creating any squad is to build trust within the group. To facilitate this, spend the first 3 sessions sharing.
Session 1: Who are you? Why did you join? What do you hope will happen?
Session 2: When did life transform for you? We all have that story. The one where something happens, and suddenly you're thinking differently about life. What happened?
Session 3: What do you want to be invited for that you're not invited for today? People are invited to things because they have bold thoughts; they're known for their expertise. What could that be for you?
See who says yes and schedule the first session.
Tell me what happens.
AMPLIFY
If this experiment worked for you, isn't it possible that it might work for the people on your team? Why not support squad creation in your company?
Make it easier for them by:
Providing the template
Providing the tools - let your team use your office space and/or technology to support the logistics.
Providing the funds - give them a budget to fund the activity.
Why do this other than just eliminating professional loneliness in your team? No one blinks at investing in sending your executive team to events and conferences to network and learn. This approach provides on a smaller individual scale but could make a considerable corporate impact.
INVEST
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