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Harvard Conference Reflections - Part III

Inspired by David Cooperrider at the Conference on Coaching in Medicine and Leadership I am co-director of a new Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School and in September we held our second Harvard Medical School Coaching in Medicine and Leadership Conference. We brought together international coaching leaders to share the theory, research, and science-based practices of coaching with healthcare professionals, executive/leadership coaches, and professional coaches in healthcare. The conference featured speakers from a variety of fields who inspired all of us to move forward vigorously our paths of development and growth so that we are more impactful in helping our coaching clients improve health, well-being, and performance.

Benjamin and Rosamund Zander

Our opening presentation on the second day of the conference provided a unique and interactive experience with music.  In a collaboration between The Art of Possibility authors, Ben and Roz Zander, both a vocalist and a cellist inspired us to pay attention to the kinds of conversations we have with ourselves.

A Unique Strategy

In previous blogs, I've written about Ben's unique approach to giving students full credit at the beginning of each year by having them write an "A Letter". This year, I was impressed by his strategy for having students voice their fears, or Gremlin voices. From a selection of lapel pins with slogans on them, students choose a slogan that best represents a belief about themselves which is holding them back. Asking "What is the limiting belief that keeps me from being at my best?" students select a slogan that captures the limiting thought.

Limiting Beliefs
For example, the lapel pins might say:

• I'm not stupid, everyone else is just smarter than me
• I smile because I have no idea what's going on
• I don't play well with others
• I took an IQ test and the results were negative
• I may look busy, but I'm just confused
• I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure
• I need to have more fun

This playful approach to naming one's undermining thoughts is actually the first step in taking away the power of those thoughts; by calling them it out in such a public way, students can then begin to notice what about the statement is not true.

What Does Your Button Say?

What are your slogans? What do you say to yourself, which undermines your success? What are your limiting beliefs...and what is not actually true?

The Shift
Prior to the conference presentation, the vocalist and the cellist had each chosen a saying which represented their own fear-based thoughts. And, after lively and inspirational coaching from Ben, the beliefs clearly no longer applied to them. Ben had an unwavering belief that each performer could shine a little brighter, could show up more boldly, and could connect with the music more intensely. You can see an example of the kind of conversation Ben and Roz have with their students on their website, and an interview with Morley Safer on this video clip from 60 Minutes.

Stay Tuned

Next week, I'll introduce Robert Kegan and his transformational ideas about change...