Transformation
Transformation is one of those words that has become very over-used.
When words get over-used we lose clarity about their real meaning. In practice I might mean one thing when I say "Transformation" (or "impact", or "interesting", etc.) but you might imagine something very different. Suddenly the value of the word is lowered and the strength of its meaning is lost.
Last year I was fortunate to facilitate a conversation with the North Point team in which we worked to clearly define our use of the word Transformation. It was a rich series of discussions with a number of key conclusions that supported us moving our strategy and messaging forward - having clearly identified that our lack of clarity was holding us back in a lot of ways as a team.
There was one key insight that has stuck with me from those sessions though. That insight was that transformation is always happening.
It seems obvious as I write it now, but how many times do you imaging transformation being about something new, something totally different?
Transformation is always happening
In reality transformation and change is a part of our every day life, but it is the capacity for directing change that makes it truly tranformational. In this way transformation is almost always connected with intentional agency and attention.
Indulge me while I stay with this a moment longer:
Change is always happening, the transitioning of things is the natural order. We look to transformation as a technology of change but instead it is change, and it's happening all the time, all around us. We should be worried if it is not!
The trajectory of the transformation
Our actions in the world alter the fabric of the change happening around us. This is true whether it is intentional or unintentional, positive or negative, constructive or destructive.
We look to transformation as a technology of change
So the question becomes, how do we participate in transformation intentionally for positive and constructive change? How do we do that for our teams, for our customers, for our families? How do we show up and make it happen?
This is one of the reasons that I remain so excited by coaching, and more specifically coach-training (I began that journey in earnest last year). As a facilitative methodology, coaching allows us to engage purposefully and meaningfully to pull the best out of those around us. It allows us to support and encourage transformative change.
Shameless Plug
If you understand more about exercising your intentional agency, to be a transformational part of the change happening around you, North Point are running a free 5 day challenge. This will be a great way to explore your role in transformation for yourself, your team, your family and maybe even your coachees if want to continue down that great path.