Navigating the Seven C’s
of Deep-End Leadership

           
What is Deep-End Leadership? Deep-End Leadership is when individuals decide to stop wallowing in the shallow-end of their leadership lives and begin to challenge themselves to realize their full leadership potential. Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing bad about shallow-end leadership because you can certainly still make a significant splash just wading in low leadership waters. After all, most people are frozen at the water’s edge unwilling to even dip their big toe into the sea of their vast leadership potential. 

But Deep-End Leadership is when you decide to do things that take you out of your comfort zone as a leader. You make decisions and take actions that give you butterflies in your belly. You cannot increase your influence as a leader by staying in the shallow-end of your leadership life. You have to wade, and most-times dive, into the Deep-End where the risks and the rewards are greater. Below is a brief glimpse of the power points of Navigating the 7 C’s of Deep-End Leadership.

Calling: Deep-End Leaders know that they have a particular Calling on their lives and their primary job in life is to discover their unique purpose and mission – the very reason why God created them. Understanding your true Calling will lead you to the right people, places and projects where you can best utilize your gifts and talent. Unfortunately, most people never discover their Calling and take their gifts and greatness with them to their graves. Ask yourself: if money was not a factor, how would l be living my life?

Courage: Once Deep-End Leaders discover their Calling, they summon the Courage to respond to it. I remember as a youth at camp being called to the high diving board, but it took a couple of trips up the ladder for me to summon the Courage to actually jump! The foe of Courage is fear and fear manifests itself in all sorts of debilitating ways for potential Deep-End Leaders like procrastination, avoidance, clutter and quitting when the heat gets turned up. A great exercise to increase your Courage quotient is to create a list of 10 things you would do if you were Ten Times Bolder!

Completion: Stephen Covey in his classic leadership book, The Seven Habits of Highly-Effective People, says we must begin with the end in mind! Deep-End Leaders constantly ask themselves what does success looks like? They write vision statements for the goals and projects that come out of their Callings. Completion also means that they stay the course, persist and refuse to quick before completing the process! Most of all, Deep-End Leaders have arrived at a level of self-acceptance where they believe that they are Complete as human beings – that they are already in possession of everything they need to fulfill their Callings in life.

Credibility: What do people say about you and who you are? What does your reputation convey about your leadership competencies and capabilities? Deep-End Leaders are in engaged in a constant process of building their Credibility – their character. They honor their word and deliver what they promise. Successfully navigating this fourth C is what truly takes you into deep leadership waters because it allows us to effectively and believably communicate the vision of your Calling. Credibility evokes the trust and likeability you must have in order to influence others to follow you and embrace your ideas.

Collaboration: You can possess an inspiring Calling and have all the Courage, Completion (vision) and Credibility you want, but if you don’t have teammates or followers, you will not go very far navigating Deep-End Leadership waters! Deep-End Leaders learn to compassionately and effectively Collaborate with other individuals and organizations. They don’t have a “what’s in it for me” attitude and realize that there is power in partnerships!

Change: Deep-End Leaders know that shift happens! There are leaks and shark-infested waters along every leader’s journey. Successfully navigating Change and adversity means you possess a life philosophy which enables you to transform your stumbling blocks into stepping stones. Remember: Don’t Get Bitter, Get Better! Just as important, Deep-End Leaders are Change agents, using their skills and talents to help positively Change people, organizations and communities.

Coaching: Get One, Be One! Deep-End Leaders, while believing that they are Complete human beings, are humble enough to know that they still need to seek wise guidance and counsel from mentors – trusted life Coaches with more experience charting the choppy waters of Deep-End Leadership. Professional and personal Coaching is essential to surviving and thriving in the Deep-End. Just as important, Deep-End leaders are constantly Coaching others to move from the shallow end of their lives to the Deep-End. If you are reading this article you are blessed. And you are blessed to be a blessing to others. So, immediately find someone to Coach and mentor, sharing your experiences and wisdom!

To request Shawn Dove to conduct a 7C’s Workshop or Keynote Speech please click here.