In today’s hyper-connected life, where opportunities, ideas, and demands come at us from every direction, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed (I could call it “The Summer Effect”). Lately, I’ve been experiencing just that—a barrage of requests, new ideas, projects, and potential collaborations. It’s exciting and invigorating, but also, at times, exhausting and confusing.
I needed to step back and rethink. To prioritize what aligns with my vision and values. To ensure that what I’m committing to truly makes sense for my clients and my path forward, so I had to ask for a break in some initiatives, because I need space to look at the horizon.
Yesterday, during a coaching session, a client expressed frustration about not yet receiving a decision from her CEO regarding an important initiative she hopes to implement this month. The CEO asked for some time to think, and I posed a question to her:
‘What do you want to do with this waiting period?’
Basically, my question was: “what do you want to do with this empty space”? The session then shifted to exploring other areas of her life, beyond work, where she feels more in control and can nurture growth while her ideas take root in her boss’s mind.
Today, she wrote to me: “I want to highlight your sensitivity in leading today’s session. You are always very sensitive and assertive, but today, realizing that it was the moment to shift focus and bring LIFE into other areas was sensational.”
As leaders (and in life), we often feel the pressure to jump in and say yes to everything, to get answers from everybody, to fill every gap. But sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is leave some open space—blanks that aren’t immediately filled.
In that space, creativity can breathe. Ideas can grow organically. A more sustainable path can emerge.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom”. Viktor E. Frankl
When was the last time you allowed yourself that kind of space? What happened after that? I would love to hear from you!