the law of the road. It’s been a while since I had the pleasure of talking to Nina Carola, who is both an actress and a fellow coach in our team, about “God and the world”.
What touches us and what moves us? How does communication actually work between such different people? How can we understand each other when everyone has their own world in their head? What has value, what doesn’t?
We used a long walk through Munich at night for this exchange of ideas. The Isartor became the beginning and end of this Walk&Talk. Practically from the first moment, with a friendly handshake, long before Corona, one word led to the next. Every interesting question triggered even more exciting ones. With my camera, often my constant companion, I was also able to capture one or two moments in pictures. On the corner of Rosenstraße and Kaufingerstraße, we were magically drawn to the music.
He stood there with his accordion strapped to his back and played one beautiful melody after another. We were treated to gypsy music and passionate tango. El Viejo “the old man” was in town.
You could feel that the music came from deep within and his body language, facial expressions and especially his expressive eyes radiated happiness, contentment and a hint of deep, dark blue melancholy. A person completely #HigherSelf. How could that be? Here in the cool evening air on the street, in his already worn clothes. Playing for a few coins. Maybe for accommodation and something to eat. How did “the old man” manage to look so happy and content?
After a few songs, which we enjoyed listening to, he took a break and the three of us stood together and exchanged a few thoughts. It was about that special feeling of freedom and really being completely with yourself.
“Be where you want to be,” was his credo. “Do what you really want to do. Be true to yourself and share your happiness with others. You don’t have to forget yesterday and tomorrow needs your welcome, but you can only live in the here and now. Be happy about what you have, not unhappy about what you lack.” The law of freedom on the road.
In many seminars and coaching sessions, the focus is on dealing with yourself and others. It’s about communication and teamwork, motivation and leadership, time and self-management. If we want to win others over, it always starts with ourselves. The clearer we are with ourselves, the more attractive and efficient we become.
In order to be able to move more easily and freely, it is important to shed unnecessary baggage from time to time. If you carry too much baggage around with you, you become slow and tired. In order to develop an eye for solutions, the attitude “the glass is half full” helps us much more than “the glass is half empty”. Sounds so simple and yet so many slip into the latter, problem-oriented perspective. Those who set out on a search with self-confidence and open eyes have a good chance of finding what they are looking for. It’s up to us whether these are solutions or problems.
Managers, by their very nature, are always an important point of reference, an orientation for their employees, their teams and everyone they are in contact with. So how should your/our employees and colleagues work? In the HigherSelf or in the LowerSelf?
Even in the age of digital transformation, credible, motivating leadership is not obsolete. Let’s take a look at the steep rise of “influencers” on social media/business media platforms. Who could seriously question the importance of role models and their guidance function?
There is a very exciting speech online by a former admiral in the US Navy, William Harry “Bill” #McRaven. A clear appeal for a consistently positive attitude, for team spirit and for never giving up. I would like to add one important demand from his speech here: “Respect everyone!” Good leadership and a strong team spirit thrive on this.
Think freely, do what really suits you, be a role model and treat everyone with respect.
Sources and links:
McRaven: https://youtu.be/pxBQLFLei70
Our team: https://www.lorenz-seminare.de/ueber-uns/trainer-und-berater/
Pictures: Karl Heinz Lorenz