The Mountain is calling, with less than three weeks to Bathurst!
The rear-view mirror has been checked, the headlights are on, possibilities have appeared on the map and the gear has been selected. Now it is time to put our hands on the wheel as we explore the fifth Drive Your Career capability: Forward Steering.
We can reflect, gain clarity, imagine possibilities and create a plan, but there comes a point when we need to begin moving.
Implementing is where intention starts becoming action, even if that first action is small, experimental or takes us only as far as the next corner.
When planning becomes a very comfortable parking space
Planning can help us clarify our direction, consider the conditions ahead and prepare for movement. It can also become a surprisingly comfortable place to remain.
There may always be another detail to investigate, another possibility to compare or another version of the plan to refine. Preparation can feel productive because something is happening, but eventually we may need to ask whether it is helping us move or simply keeping the engine running while the vehicle remains parked.
This does not mean racing away before we are ready. It means recognising when we know enough to begin testing a direction.
The first action does not need to carry us to the final destination. It may simply help us discover what becomes visible once we start moving.
Movement can create new information
It is tempting to believe that we need complete certainty before taking action. In reality, some information can only be gained through movement.
A conversation may clarify whether an idea deserves further exploration. A small experiment may reveal what feels energising or what needs to change. An initial action may confirm a direction, challenge an assumption or bring a different possibility into view.
Movement does not lock us permanently onto one road. Steering involves noticing what is happening and making adjustments along the way.
We do not need to control every kilometre of the journey before putting our hands on the wheel. Thankfully, most roads do not demand a fully documented five-year itinerary before allowing us to leave the driveway.
Hands on the Wheel
This week’s downloadable activity, Hands on the Wheel, is an opportunity to consider what may help you turn direction into movement without needing to control every part of the road ahead.
The downloadable contains the prompts and visual space needed to explore which part of your plan is ready to move from intention into action.
Which action are you choosing to steer first?
Download the full Hands on the Wheel activity here:
The action that comes into view may be smaller than expected. It may be exploratory, practical or designed to help you learn more before committing to a longer route. Its value lies in helping you begin moving with intention.
A little team curiosity spark
Have you ever considered what a well-coordinated pit stop might reveal about how a team turns its plans into action?
I will leave that question in the pit lane rather than unpacking the metaphor here. It is one of the automotive-inspired ideas I use to help teams become curious about how planning, contribution and coordination translate into movement. Reach out if you would like to explore this idea further or discuss how my automotive-inspired approach could help your team gain clarity and get unstuck.
Put your hands on the wheel
Taking action does not mean knowing exactly how every part of the journey will unfold. It means choosing where to begin and remaining curious about what movement reveals.
The first turn of the wheel may take us forward, show us that an adjustment is needed or bring a previously unseen route into view. Each of those outcomes provides information we could not gather while remaining parked.
Which action are you choosing to steer first?
Next, we will consider how to navigate changing conditions, unexpected corners and the occasional bump as we explore the sixth Drive Your Career capability: Adaptive Suspension.
Reach out directly to chat more about my Drive Your Career: Shift Gears with Hope and Purpose approach and how it can support you or your team to get curious, gain clarity and get unstuck.
Jenn Barfield - Holistic Clarity Coaching 