Blog
Leading with Charisma: Design Your Life.
Into week three and I am getting clear on my vision! Every week the LWC classes are designed to teach us powerful women new ways of living, thinking, and doing and each class prepares us for the next. Last week we started some mind mapping and this week we put it to good use, creating a vision. What I found most interesting about this class was the deep thought we were all in as we mapped out what we want our challenges to look like. It was a feeling of being transparent and owning what we struggle with inside. It might sound scary, but I cannot express in enough words just how liberating this process was. When the pen hits the paper, it is much like the rubber hitting the road; the real deal and it’s time to start moving forward.
Forward? To what? VISION! What I envision my life, career and home life looking like. I am coach and I can easily coach someone else through his or her challenges, set goals, hold them accountable and praise them for all their accomplishments. However, I would rather all of that come from an authentic place of experience. I do not want to be a “do as I say” person, but rather an “I am a creator and here is how I can best serve as your friend, coach or companion.” I am still crafting my vision and will be ready to share it with my group next week. Another step in my forward movement, staying accountable, and owning who I am, what I want and how I will get there!
Tara Raj
Live Authentically
Leading with Charisma in person class is still bringing it!
Last week we focused on strategic thinking and mind mapping. At first, I thought, “How will strategic think help me in everyday life?” Then I wondered, “What is this mind mapping all about. I make lists!” Here is what I learned: strategic thinking is having an organized and structured approach to a systematic process, assumptions, outcomes and thoughts to reaching your goals. That easy –ha! No really it is. I feel like I am thinking in random spurts and more often than not I make my lists and then fall short on completing them. Why? Because I was not thinking strategically and not because I did not want to, but because I was not aware it was a way of thinking. This helped me to become more clear on the HOW to get what I want. In this class, we participated in a game of chess. I never played chess before so it was good thing that part of the class homework was to learn a little bit about the game. STRATEGIC THINKING in FULL play! I had a goal, but it was the strategic thinking that helped me to be clear on the HOW to get to my goal, WINNING!
Now, mind mapping helps this process by allowing the brain to write down the thoughts in a similar way that it thinks them. We do not think linear so to write our steps out in a linear format makes it harder for the brain to process and react strategically.
This class was a great way for me to refocus my thinking in a way that creates more action towards and around my goals. I want to get to a place where my “lists” become complete and this is another step forward for me! Thanks again Dawn!
Tara Raj
Live Authentically
Leading with Charisma Flight Two and I’m still on my path.
May 18, 2010 I was driving to class; excited to get started on the second flight of the Leading with Charisma and like the many classes before I walked in to see the smiling faces of my classmates. This session was about setting your path. PERFECT because right now, that is what I need. We started with a recap of the first flight, then pulled out our DISC assessments and got to work. I really enjoy the exercises because they get my mind going; thinking. I love to hear the other women in class share their thoughts and stories. I am partnered with a woman that I simply find delightful and look forward to sharing our development wins.
As always, Dawn is the light that gets us thinking and moves us forward. She is an amazing support shoulder and has a way of holding that space for us to be transparent without judgment. Her classes have been a vehicle for me to look deep down, be curious and take intentional action.
My take away was learning more about my high “D” behavioral style and how important it is to how I live and interact with others. The more I am aware of my strengths and behaviors the more comfortable I am showing up in the world simply as me.
Until next week, live well!
Tara Raj, Live Authentically
LWC Flight Two! Setting Your Path
One of the things I love about coaching others as well as being coached is the non-judgmental space a person has to reflect in. In Tuesday night’s class we talked about strategic thinking; leaders vs. managers, and strengths; recognizing and over using them. As a participant in Dawn’s Leading with Charisma class, I allow myself to step out of my “coach” frame of mind and be a student. Through this process, I tapped into my strengths and how I might over use them in certain situations. I also learned how I could better interact or collaborate with others based on their strengths. I love the energy that is created from the LWC classes and the women in my class are simply wonderful. Dawn has a beautiful way of gliding us into each topic and giving us background to understand and room to soar. I look forward to my Tuesday nights!
Tara Raj
Live Authentically
Soaring with Charisma; another exciting class, more thought provoking discussion and new self-discoveries!
This class talked about a six-letter word that affects the masses! This word is so powerful that it can literally tear a person down physically, mentally and emotionally: STRESS. It is amazing how this word affects each of us in ways we may not even be aware. The thing is, stress is all around us in so many forms such as media, work, family, friends, school, personal conflicts and the list can go on. What is essential to a person’s well being, is effectively managing their stress. The exercises the group did was geared toward identifying their stressors, understanding where the stress is coming from, then managing it.
Each week I look forward to a new class and each week Dawn never lets me down. The energy that the women create, the conversation that unfolds and more importantly the growth that I see right before my eyes as each woman in the room comes into her own. So far have been fortunate to be a part of the process by participating in some fashion; I have to say that it has helped me to see things from a different perspective and I am learning. It is great to be a part of a program that helps women to create better awareness and give them the tools to tap into their inner strength and leader abilities.
I do not know what the next class holds, but I have no doubts that Dawn will deliver a powerful curriculum that will surpass my expectations.
Tara Raj
Live Authentically
