Clarity precedes mastery: unlock mastery for you and your team

Clarity precedes mastery quote. Image of key on pebbles

As I write to you all today at the end of February and after a long hiatus, I was thinking about what to write about that would be useful to you at this point in this year, with all that is happening globally and locally. 

The world as we know has changed, and this can impact our sense of purpose, meaning, focus, emotions, and behaviour, leaving us feeling dislocated, fearful or simply needing to step back and ask ourselves bigger questions, or re-evaluate the impact of external factors on our industry, businesses and teams. 

The themes that I work with in my practice are connected to personal and leadership mastery.   One of the themes that came up with several clients in my practice this month particularly is the theme of clarity. 

Coaching’s stated benefits are often linked to clarity in some shape or form, and I have seen first-hand over and over the power of clarity for clients and for myself.  This is especially so in this time in life where there is so much noise and so much fighting for our attention, it can be hard to discern the important few things from the less important many. 

There are many levels of clarity (like a diamond - from perfect clarity to less clarity) and types of clarity, ranging from:

• clarity of purpose at the level of business team and individual;

• clarity of what is being asked of me at this stage of my life?

• clarity on my strengths, gifts and talents;

• clarity about where to commit time or what to stop doing;

• clarity about what to say no to;

• clarity of values for yourself, your team or your business;

• clarity of the heart’s longings;

• and I am sure much more …

Clients used various words to describe the power of clarity that emerged for them after they felt the vague fuzziness or murkiness that precedes it.  Clarity seems to be the unlock key for energy and action.  For leaders’ clarity of purpose unlocks team alignment; clarity of values unlocks team commitment and collaboration; at the individual level clarity of expectations and purpose of role unlocks more deliberate action and fuels energy.

As we move into March, with not too much of the year yet underway, what is the clarity you are seeking that will unlock energy and focus?

I leave you will some quotes on clarity that I am pondering as I focus attention in the next month on CLARITY.  Which quote/s may resonate for you?  I would love to hear – hit reply here. 

The quote that is resonating for me is Robin Sharma’s “Clarity precedes Mastery.”  I do not take this to mean that you get clarity by thinking about it on your own, and then acting in a linear fashion. There is clarity that emerges from action; from experimentation; from conversation; from observation of your own curiosity. 

Beware though of clarity that seems to emerge quickly rather than the deeper clarity that comes from connection to a deeper sense of purpose, from the heart and gut and not only the head.  I know first-hand the dangers of false starts, that seem to have a lot of thrust, like rocket fuel, quick to burn and want to fizzle in due course. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French novelist, poet, aviator, said “It is only with the heart that one can see clearly.”

Quotes on clarity that I am pondering: 

“Clarity and simplicity are the antidotes to complexity and uncertainty” General George Casey

“Clarity precedes mastery” Robin Sharma

“Clarity of Mind means clarity of passion, too; that is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves” Blaise Pascal

“Clarity is the preoccupation of the effective leader.  If you do nothing else as a leader, be clear.” Marcus Buckingham

“It’s a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration.  Those emotions are poison to any living goal.”  Steve Maraboli

“Clarity comes from action not thought.” Marie Folio

“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity.” Francois Gautier

“Your vision will only become clear when you look into your own heart.  Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside, awakes?”  Carl Jung

“You live out the confusions until they become clear.”  Anais Nin

“It is only with the heart that one can see clearly.”  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“The strength and clarity of your vision will lift you out of the depth of any hardship.”  Robin Sharma

“The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is.”  Jiddu Krishnamurti

PS: Reach out for a clarifying conversation if this post resonates with you or forward to a friend if you liked this post.