Removing the chippings: personal development blogs

I don't know about you but I have mixed feelings about the term 'personal development'.  I know it's a significant motivator for many people, and I know many great writers, teachers and coaches who work under the banner of personal development.  But at the same time the words carry a lingering sense of 'shoulds' and 'expectations'  - or at least that's how they resonate in my particular map of the world.

I am more attracted to the idea that human beings are already complete, already perfect.  And that we do not need to develop so much as unfurl, or blossom.  Nick Smith at Life 2.0 had some interesting perspectives on this in the context of psychotherapy.  He compares the work of the therapist to the creative power of an artist like Michelangelo, sculpting not to create something new but rather

    removing the chippings to what is already there and perfectly formed.

He quotes Michelangelo: "the sculptor's hand can only break the spell to free the figures slumbering in the stone."  I love this thought - it makes me wonder about the figures that are slumbering within us, and what happens when we start to wake up...

Anyway all of those thoughts went through my head when Priscilla Palmer told me about her compilation of top personal development blogs.  It's a list that's growing fast - she had the good idea of starting with five, and asking each nominee to identify another five so it's evolving by the minute - and it looks like an amazing list of resources: learners, teachers, goal-setters, coaches, thinkers...check it out.  You're sure to find something of value there.

I'm delighted that Coaching Wizardry has been included in such a powerful list - even if personal development isn't a phrase I'd normally use to describe what I do.  (Maybe I just get over some of my reservations about the word: a label is just a label after all)

But thinking about the blogs that I want to nominate for inclusion in the list - well I think I'd want to go for those writers who help to remove the chippings.  Who write in a way that allows me to see things more clearly.  Things that are already true, things that - somehow - I already know.  Things about myself that are already there - but have been slumbering in the stone.

Without further ado here are the four great 'chippers' I'd add to the list:

Rosa Say at Managing with Aloha Coaching
Nick Smith at Life 2.0
Robyn McMaster at Brain Based Biz
Hilda Carroll at Living out Loud
Karen Wallace at The Clearing Space

Thanks Priscilla for your efforts to compile the list - I hope you'll forgive my meanderings at the beginning about the meaning of personal development :-)

Comments

[Priscilla Palmer]

I have certain phrases that I don't particularly like also, so I understand your position. I am pleased that you were still able to see value in the list, and decided to participate. Thank you!

[Robyn]

Joanna, my thought is that folks rebel against should's and do's but rather learn much more about chipping with guidance of a coach like you!

Fact is, I consider myself unconventional. And, in my mind that allows me to chip with my unique artistic touches. But often a suggestion helps me to chip with a difference. I need to keep learning!

Thanks for continuing to unpack ideas with such pizzazz, Joanne.

[Rosa Say]

Oooh Joanna, I love that thought of being a coach who can help others remove some chippings! What a wonderful analogy.

This also reminds me of the coaching within the strengths movement advocated by Marcus Buckingham: In the first book he had written with Curt Coffman, called First, Break All the Rules, they shared this, which they called "the revolutionary insight shared by all great managers" ---

"People don't change that much.
Don't waste time trying to put in what was left out.
Try to draw out what was left in.
That is hard enough."

Great managers have Michaelangelo's patience and his expectation. And that is what we should aspire to as coaches too.

Mahalo nui loa for this nod Joanna; what an honor to share it with you, Nick, Robyn, Hilda and Karen! Wow ... truly stellar company to be in, and very humbling.

[Joanna Young]

Hi Priscilla, thanks for understanding! I'm sure your list will be a great resource for people, and thanks for putting the effort into compiling it.

Joanna

[Joanna Young]

Robyn, I'm glad that we can learn from each other. You really do chip with style... your work is much appreciated.

Joanna

[Joanna Young]

Thanks for sharing those insights Rosa. I think you're right about the difference that we can make as managers and coaches by our own attitude - what we believe to be true about the people we are working with, the expectations that we have about them - it's the key to releasing potential.

Joanna

[Robyn]

Joanna, I'm updating my post to note you chipped my name into the Personal Development List. ;-)

[Joanna Young]

Thanks Robyn. I must now find some time myself to go through all of the amazing resources on the list.

Joanna

[Karen Wallace]

Joanna, thank you so much for the inclusion as a 'chipper' - it's a high honour indeed!

I too love the idea of being a coach who helps to chip away the layers and uncover what we knew already, deep in our soul... Your writing helps me chip, every time I visit here.

[Joanna Young]

Karen, my pleasure. Thanks for the feedback on my writing - I love the way we can learn from and inspire each other like this.

Joanna

[John W. McKenna]

Joanna

You’ve been tagged for the “Does Most Leadership Suck Challenge”. Check the link for details.

Take care...

JWM

[Joanna Young]

Hi John, thanks for the tag. I probably won't pick it up though as I'm doing my best to blog with a purpose just now and this would be a bit off topic.

Joanna