Two baseball teams with a deep bench and skilled, talented players. What is the extra team success “It” factor the KC Royals won with (the World Series), and do you and your team have It? Consider Spiritual Intelligence, “the ability to behave with wisdom and compassion (heart, love), while maintaining inner and outer peace, regardless of the situation.” “Grace under fire” is also developed as an aspect of Executive Presence for organizational leaders.
“We talk a lot about a heart to win and a heart to play because your best players have to care the most. They have to compete the best. They have to focus on being a great teammate. Your managers, your leaders have to have those character traits if your players are going to follow…Simply, it’s a servant-based-type leadership. I believe, as the general manager, my No. 1 responsibility is to do everything I can to make sure this is an incredible place to work and to grow as a leader,” said Dayton Moore, Kansas City Royals General Manager, in a 7/10/15 Kansas City Business Journal interview with Austin Alonzo, the year the Royals won the World Series with this team success “it” factor.
Spiritual Intelligence (newer to me! you?), according to author Cindy Wigglesworth, takes us from being irritating and feeling irritated (due to ego focus and I say also the feeling of being worn down by continual changes and stresses) to focusing on the bigger picture, with wisdom and compassion while maintaining peace (and, good news, can be developed!-take the steps below). Imagine a bird with two wings, one compassion, one wisdom. Both are needed to soar.
One of the United Nations Senior leaders I have coached got “It.” He had many years of experience and had completed many leadership programs. What he chose to further develop through our coaching was his Spiritual Intelligence. “I think that I can further enhance the quality of my engagement through presence. In practice, I can turn down the mental chatter even more, allowing for ideas… to arise from silence,” he said. (He was practicing Step 1, see below)
The Royals needed to tune out the chatter (from the crowds, and their own internal chatter when they were behind) in New York and stick to their heart for the game, the team, Kansas City; while using their wisdom (plus skills) to win the game with the “it” team success factor. How about you?
The coaches I mentor and supervise learn to tune out the chatter, to be fully present, tapping into their and their clients’ wisdom, compassionately listening and fully focused on their clients for best results, as do the leaders I coach with their direct reports.
How will you develop the winning “It” team success factor, Spiritual Intelligence, as the Royals won the World Series with?
When you find yourself feeling irritated (in a meeting, for example) take these 2 steps:
- Pause and take a few deep breaths: this moves the blood from the amygdala portion of your brain to the neocortex, where you are able to focus and make wise decisions (center).
- Activate your compassion by asking yourself, “What is the noblest, most loving thing I can do right now, for the others in this meeting, our team, for the greater purpose, vision, organization that we represent, for stakeholders?”
Note: if nothing pops up at first, consider leaders you admire and what they would do.
You are invited!
- Apply for an Unlock Potential strategy session today, take advantage of one my few openings to explore Executive Leadership, Team Coaching for you, your team, and organization.
- Coaches: Increase your and your clients’ impact and success as you advance your coaching, credentialing and cultural intelligence in our unique, business expanding Culturally Intelligent Mentor Coaching + Certificate program! 99% success rate! Earn 24.5 hours ICF Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
To our success-we are in this together! Tune in next week.
First published October 30, 2015 and updated
