The Source

In my preparations for a forthcoming learning intervention with a large company, I held a 1-1 call with the leader of the organisation.
He shared lots of thoughts, feelings, analysis and views about current issues, yet I felt I needed more.
After some in depth discussion, I suggested that it would be helpful to meet 1 by 1 with each of the Senior Management Team (SMT).
Thus, I travelled south, to be with them this week.
After setting the context, I asked one question and ran a little activity, repeating it several times over two days.
In each of my personal encounters, one by one they spoke openly and passionately about their responsibilities.
The outcomes were insightful, helpful and enlightening.
Spending time with each leader, connecting with them, grasping their perspectives and engaging with them personally helped me to discern the nature of the challenges at hand.
Direct communication, powerful questioning and active listening were key to each of them giving me their personal views.
Reflecting upon this activity, I believe it to have been a successful use of everyoneโ€™s time.

Why?

I went to ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž.

In our dialogue, connecting with each member of the SMT was a powerful ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž of helpful insight, allowing me to foster authentic relationships and avoid any distortion of information.

Since then, I have thought about another ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž of even greater insight.
Going to ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž, especially in matters of faith and spirituality, carries an unparalleled significance that cannot be replaced by second-hand knowledge, interpretation, or analysis.

Who?

I believe that Jesus Christ is “๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’๐’–๐’“๐’„๐’†”” of all peace, light, truth and joy.
When we go to Him, we are referring to an intimate, personal encounter with the divine that shapes our spiritual understanding and life in ways that books, sermons, or even conversations with others can never fully achieve.
Encountering Jesus Christ in a personal, direct manner leads to deep, long-lasting change.
๐‡๐ž is ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’๐’–๐’“๐’„๐’† of the living waters, providing an abundance of life, spiritual sustenance and joy.
Speaking to the Samaritan woman as she drew from Jacobโ€™s well, Jesus declared โ€œBut whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.โ€ โ€“ John 4:13-14
I hope that we will all choose to drink from the divine ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐œ๐ž of all living waters and connect with Him, even Jesus Christ.

Go and Do

It is one thing to go.

It is another thing to do.

Missionary preparation is to be ready to go and do whatever the Lords wants done.

Having worked amongst hundreds of missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the last three years, and thousands throughout my lifetime, they all give me hope for the future of our communities and nations.

Simply stated – they go and do.

Arriving

Arriving infield at Orientation Day, under the watchful eye of Jesus Christ, they select a go and do T-shirt, as a constant reminder of the words spoken by Nephi:

โ€œI will go and do the things which the Lord commandedโ€ฆโ€ 1 Nephi 3:7

With sufficient faith, and with great intent theyย goย and do whatever He asks.

Laurel Storheim and Sydnee Fillmore, currently serving in Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands, (their fourth transfer together,) are a great example of missionaries who go and do.

Like thousands of missionaries throughout the world, they ask themselves โ€œBased on the teachings of Jesus Christ, what can we go and do today, that will make a difference for someone in our community?โ€

Scriptures

In Acts 10:38, the apostle Peter describes Jesus Christ as one who โ€œwent about doing good.โ€

Jesus did not solely preach about doing good; He exemplified it through His one by one actions.

His life of selfless service acts as a model for each of us to be personally and actively engaged in helping others.

As Laurel and Sydnee seek to do good, they stand as witnesses of Him.

Without action, without doing, good intentions remain unfulfilled.

Helping others by doing good, is a reflection of our compassion, empathy, and love.

These values, embodied in Jesusโ€™ ministry, are essential to creating a more compassionate world, of which we are in much need of right now.

Service

Iโ€™ll never forget the devastating floods that hit Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in July 2021, shortly after we commenced our missionary service.

Our missionaries at the time took action, going and doing by making regular visits to provide service in and around Liรจge.

Letโ€™s follow the missionaries example, take action, make a difference in the world, choose to go and do.

You can help in a flooded area, paint a neighbours fence, pick up litter along the street, say hello to a stranger, or ask someone โ€œWhat can I do for you?โ€ โ€“ opportunities are all around us.

Through selfless service, when we go and doย good, we inspire others to do the same.

What will you do to love and serve someone in need today?

Accreditation, Certification and Experience

Recently, I was asked; โ€œWhat is your coaching certification again please?โ€

In response I stated, โ€œI have an ILM Level 5 Diploma in Coaching & Mentoring.โ€

โ€œYou donโ€™t have ๐ž๐ฑ๐ž๐œ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž certification thenโ€ฆmore of our clients require ๐ž๐ฑ๐ž๐œ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž certification nowโ€ฆโ€ came the reply.

And thus, my soul searching, research and many conversations began.

My ILM Level 5 required 100 hours of coaching, 3 x assessments, 5 days of workshops and a whole host of other requirements too.

Here I am, ten years after being certified by the ILM, looking again at what options were available to gain an ILM Level 7 Certificate or Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.

The executive certificate is 20 hours of coaching, the executive diploma is 60 hours of coaching, both with 3 x assessments and 4 or 5 days of workshops either online or face to face.

Both involved spending anywhere between ยฃ2.5K and ยฃ6K, to gain the certification.

I looked at other options with the AOEC, the ICF and the EMCC.

I started to add up not only the monetary costs, but the opportunity costs and the time and commitment it was going to take me to get the word โ€œ๐ž๐ฑ๐ž๐œ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐žโ€ on my certification.

Thoughts around the sunk cost fallacy started to play into my mind.

I considered how much future business Iโ€™d lose, if I donโ€™t have that word in my certification.

Time to pause and reflect…

โ€œWas it worth all the effort and expense?โ€ I thought.

Whilst all of this was going on, I had the most wonderful conversation with my former coaching Supervisor, who brought me back to realityโ€ฆ

โ€œI wouldnโ€™t underestimate the value of your Level 5 diploma,โ€ said Gwynneth.

โ€œAnd remember the ‘curriculum’ and structure of the L7 are not so different after all.โ€

Suddenly it all started to make sense.

For ten years and more, Iโ€™ve accumulated some nearly 8,000+ hours of one-one coaching, team coaching and mentoring.

Iโ€™ve coached throughout the leadership pipeline, from members of the Board, Chief executives, Managing Directors, Senior Managers, Middle & Junior Managers, to top talent and future leaders.

Iโ€™ve designed, delivered and facilitated global coaching programmes online and face to face.

Whatever way you look at it, thatโ€™s a heck of a lot of experience.

Iโ€™ve had numerous expressions of thanks, and Iโ€™ve received many testimonials too.

I had a choice to make, which included doing nothing at all, by simply carrying on as before.

I actually didnโ€™t need to expend several thousands of pounds to get another word in my diploma, I have more than enough experience already.

Other Options?

But perhaps there was another option.

โ€œIs there any other way to show my experienceโ€ฆโ€ I thought.

And then the penny dropped.

Iโ€™ve been a member of the Association for Coaching for the last ten years.

Iโ€™d even attended many of their workshops/learning sessions either online or face to face.

So, I explored becoming a โ€œFellowโ€ of the Association which recognises for a small additional annual cost, the experience that Iโ€™d gained over all those years.

Subsequently, I am pleased to say that I am now a โ€œFellow of the Association for Coachingโ€, which credits me for the many years of professional experience and contributions to the world of coaching and mentoring that I have made.

If you are one of those many coaches out there, where some clients are demanding the word โ€œexecutiveโ€ in your credentials, before you make any rash, expensive decisions, perhaps you should think again.

Fellow Certificate_Daryl Watson

Retreat and Recover

In my studies through the years, I find it fascinating that the leaders of three of the worldโ€™s great religions have one thing in commonโ€ฆ
They understood the importance of stepping back from the world for personal reflection and renewal.
In ancient times, spiritual leaders sought refuge in nature or isolated spaces, understanding that it was in these quiet moments that clarity of purpose and direction emerged.
For example, the Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree in northern India (the place of enlightenment) would form the foundation of Buddhism.
In the Quran, there are numerous accounts of the Prophet Muhammad receiving revelations and instruction from the Angel Gabriel in the cave of Hira, which shaped the world of Islam.
Jesus Christ often retreated from his followers into the wilderness to meditate and pray, helping him connect with deity in order to establish Christianity.
Each of them reminds us of the importance of stepping back from the world to take some time to reflect and recover.
Modern leaders can take inspiration from these examples by carving out time for reflection, not only to recharge physically but also to reassess their leadership and the broader impact of their decisions.
Whether in politics, business, or social organisations, leaders face constant pressures to perform, make decisions, and address challenges swiftly and effectively.

Torryburn

My experience on Saturday was a simple mini example of this, taking some uninterrupted time to be alone or in this case sharing it with someone special.
Monic and I took a 2 hour long walk along the seashore, borrowing my sisterโ€™s dog Fern.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time of rejuvenation, foraging for brambles along the way and taking time to pause, reflect, talk and recover.
In our fast-paced, hyper-connected world of today, the notion of retreating for renewal has in recent years, gained a renewed relevance, especially for leaders.
A retreat, whether it’s time spent in nature or engaging in deep meditation, offers a space to disconnect from noise and reconnect with oneself, which in turn fosters sharper judgment and greater creativity.
Regularly tending to the emotional, physical, spiritual and mental aspects of our lives keeps us in a well-resourced state.
I know that most of my innovative ideas come not from being in the middle of the action but from stepping back, in moments of solitude and reflection.
Just as spiritual figures like Buddha, Muhammad, and Christ found profound insights in times of isolation, you and I along with todayโ€™s leaders can benefit greatly from stepping away from daily responsibilities to recharge, reflect, and renew our sense of purpose.
Everyone needs to unplug, refocus, retreat and reboot sometimes.
Go on โ€“ make that time to retreat todayโ€ฆ.
You know you need to.

God-incidence

For those of us who have put our faith and trust in God, there seems to be a lot of “coincidences.”
I believe that God puts people in our way for a reason and He was at work again this week, with my dear friend Derek.
We were talking about recognising โ€œhand of the Lordโ€ moments in our life, when he introduced me to the term “๐‘ฎ๐’๐’…-๐’Š๐’๐’„๐’Š๐’…๐’†๐’๐’„๐’†.”
It was the very first time I’d heard such a phrase.
“๐†๐จ๐-๐ข๐ง๐œ๐ข๐๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž” – A happening exceeding happenstance.
The hand of the Lord, divine design, divine signatures, divine appointment, divinely orchestrated, providential coincidences, or evenโ€ฆ strikingly juxtaposed events!
I encourage you to reflect on the sheer โ€˜coincidencesโ€™ in your life.
Could they be โ€˜God-incidences?

You decide!

Does any of this sound familiar?
โ€œThat is simply not possible.โ€
โ€œWasnโ€™t that just perfect timing?โ€
โ€œAnd you just happened to be in the right place at the right time.โ€
โ€œI couldnโ€™t have planned that better if Iโ€™d tried.โ€
โ€œIt just so happened that in that momentโ€ฆโ€
God doesnโ€™t work by coincidence.
I believe in God-incidence.
And this is not a faith specific phenomenon.
It occurs in all faiths and beliefs.
And yet, it baffles believers and sceptics alike.
I also believe all things are crafted by God โ€” including time.
He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent!
Nothing is random with Him.
If you are devoted to Jesus Christ, I am sure youโ€™ll notice God-incidence, yet many will argue simply human coincidence.
However, I know that Jesus Christ is a loving God and He has intentional plans for each of us.
โ€œThe steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.โ€ – Psalms 37:23
Let’s expect Him to be at work, in our day, every day!
Look very carefully at your own life today.
Watch and see those God-incidences unfoldโ€ฆ

Showing Up

Will you be attending a meeting of any kind today?
Perhaps itโ€™s a coaching session, a one-day training seminar, a job interview, a meeting with your boss, or even a visit with an elderly parent.
In my lifetime, I have sat through tens of thousands of different kinds of meetings.
There are those that I was fully prepared for, excited to attend and others that I simply โ€œshowed upโ€ and completely missed the purpose of the event.
Do you know what I mean?
Physically present, but mentally absentโ€ฆ
Something else was on my mindโ€ฆother thoughts, worries, plans or whatever.
Have you been there?

Being Present

โ€œShowing up,โ€ in its most powerful sense, means being present – cognitively and emotionally.
In my view, โ€œshowing upโ€ is about being present for others while putting your own desires and ambitions to the side.
It demands active preparation, engagement, mental readiness, and emotional presence.
As a coach, as I prepare for any session, I carefully consider what I may encounter ahead with my client.
It is a matter of focus, choosing to be fully present and engaged.
I may ask myself, “What is the purpose of this session, and how can I add value?”
True presence in a coaching session or any meeting requires active listening and observation, which goes beyond whatโ€™s being heard and seen, its about what you feel too.
Actively engaging with the ideas presented allows you to better contribute to the discussion.
Pausing to reflect on the information, asking questions, and offering thoughtful feedback shows that youโ€™re mentally engaged and not just physically present.
Just prior to a recent important meeting, I practiced a mindfulness technique of deep breathing beforehand to help my focus and listening.
Being emotionally present is also essential.
Your attitude and energy can either inspire or demotivate, and will help you to read the room and the moment.
Check in with your emotions and pause before entering the meeting to ensure youโ€™re bringing positive energy.
Showing up is a skill, and like all skills, it needs to be continuously put into practice.
But you can do it.
You will come away from your experiences, changed, simply because you showed up!
What will you do to โ€œshow upโ€ today?

Post Mission Life

Voicemails
Letters
Emails
Videocalls
Zoom calls
Phone calls
Instagram messages
Facebook messages
WhatsApp messages
BeReal photos
Text messages
And many moreโ€ฆ
And best of all personal visits too!
It was a great to have a visit yesterday with Eleanor and her husband Paul.
Thanks for coming, it was such a joy to catch up. ๐Ÿ˜Š
This has been the norm since arriving home from our mission in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Daily, there are messages from missionaries about many things!
A marriage announcement.
Asking for a reference for a new position.
Requiring a recommendation for a university application.
A request for a coaching conversation.
A baby is on the way!
When can we come and visit?
Birthday celebrations
โ€œIts been a long time since we caught up, we should find a time to do soโ€
โ€œI just wanted to reach out and set up a time when we could talkโ€
โ€œWeโ€™re planning a trip to Scotlandโ€ฆโ€
โ€œWhat you up to Pres?โ€
โ€œHereโ€™s the link for my Homecoming talkโ€
Silly emojis
Photos galore
And here was me thinking that post mission life could be dreary and dull!
Our relationships continue to grow ever richer and stronger.
It is simply wonderful.
And it will go on forever.
I love it!
And how I love every single one of our missionaries.
They are simply the best of the best.
Whatโ€™s been the best part of post mission life for you?

Human Connections

All week long Iโ€™ve been building relationships, making new acquaintances, or catching up with people I hadnโ€™t seen for a long time.
It felt like a lot.
Between 1-1 meetings, coaching sessions, presentations, associate team gatherings, new business relationships, family and friends, I reckon I have interacted with around 350+ different people this week, either face to face or online.
In my personal studies, I researched a lot about Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012.
Research shows that despite being the most digitally connected generation, Gen Z is also one of the loneliest.
Their online interactions often lack the depth and emotional nuance of face-to-face communication.
The isolation brought on by COVID-19 exacerbated this, leaving many feeling disconnected.
In my studies, I discovered a new term ๐’…๐’Š๐’”-๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’†
๐๐ข๐ฌ – meaning “lack” or “absence” and ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž – meaning “comfort” or “well-being”.
Thus, ๐๐ข๐ฌ-๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž refers to a state of unease, discomfort, or tension.
It isnโ€™t necessarily a physical illness, but rather a psychological, emotional, or even spiritual imbalance.
In my view, we are actually living in a time of massive dis-ease and disconnection.
Technology seems to connect us more than ever, but the reality is that the screens around us disconnect us from the marvels of nature, from our true selves, and from family and friends.
So, how do we overcome this dis-ease or malaise?
This week I had a discussion with a new friend about building connections.
In order to thrive, we all need human connections and face to face interactions.
Those โ€œhorizontalโ€ connections are the foundation for our emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
But there is also a โ€œverticalโ€ connection that is equally important, with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, that nourishes our spiritual wellbeing.
Jesus said, โ€œLearn of me โ€ฆ and ye shall find rest unto your soulsโ€ (Matthew 11:29).
Connection with deity is vital to our sense of meaning in this life.
When we build a relationship with God, we better understand the plan He has for us.
โ€œAnd this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sentโ€ โ€”John 17:3
How have you felt โ€œrest unto your soulโ€ recently?

Are you dependable?

In life, one value stands out as a true game-changer: dependability.
Whether it’s at work, in friendships, or in family relationships, being dependable builds trust and strengthens bonds.
So, what does it mean to be dependable, and why is it so important?
On returning home from Belgium and the Netherlands recently, we needed some help with some home repairs.
I explained the situation to my bother in law Ali, along with another friend Tony and they promised to come along one day, when Iโ€™d hire a ladder.
The duly appointed Thursday arrived.
What would have happened after all the planning, costs and arrangements if they were nowhere to be found?
How do you think that would have made me feel?
Probably frustrated, let down, or even hurt.
Now โ€“ flip that around!
The duly appointed Thursday arrived.
Both Ali and Tony arrived early, we worked on around six projects inside and outside, completed all the work in a timely manner and had a bit of fun too!
The cost of their labour โ€“ I treated them to lunch from the local bakery!
The priceless message was this โ€“ I could count on them!
If you make a commitment โ€“ do you live up to it?
Dependability isnโ€™t just about keeping promisesโ€”though that’s a big part of it!
Itโ€™s also about consistency, reliability and responsibility.
At work, being dependable means your team can trust that youโ€™ll meet deadlines and complete tasks to the best of your ability.
In friendships and relationships, dependability is key to forming meaningful, deep, lasting connections.
When people know they can trust you, it strengthens the connections between you.
So, ask yourself: are you dependable?
If the answer is yes, you’re already on the path to success.
If not, donโ€™t beat yourself up too much, dependability is something you can build.
Start today by making small pledges and keeping them and watch how it positively impacts every part of your life.
Can you be counted on?

Paying the Price

It is my experience that we do not achieve things of value in our lives, unless we are willing to pay a price.
“๐‘ท๐’‚๐’š๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐‘ท๐’“๐’Š๐’„๐’†” is an abiding principle that highlights the reality that anything of value requires ๐’†๐’‡๐’‡๐’๐’“๐’•, ๐’”๐’‚๐’„๐’“๐’Š๐’‡๐’Š๐’„๐’†, ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’…๐’†๐’…๐’Š๐’„๐’‚๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’.
Whether it’s personal success, financial stability, or meaningful relationships, achieving these goals usually always comes with a price.
This “price” often refers to the time, energy, and persistence we invest to reach our aspirations.
Last week, I was invited for an interview with a leadership development company in which I was to give a presentation, provide some training and respond to several questions for a new associate relationship.
Subsequently, I paid the price in many hours of preparation beforehand.
Time will tell if I put in sufficient effort to secure the role.
A PhD student does not succeed academically, unless time and effort are put into study and research.
An Olympic athlete does not win a gold medal, unless time and effort are put into years of preparation for that final moment.
Long-term success isn’t handed out freely.
Someone who excels in their career likely spent years honing their skills, making sacrifices, and pushing through obstacles.
The success of a PhD student or an Olympic gold medallist often conceals the countless hours of practice, setbacks, and failures they endured along the way.

Consistency

Achieving significant results requires not just an initial burst of energy, but consistent effort over time.
The process of paying the price builds character.
It teaches patience, resilience, and a strong work ethic.
Challenges too, faced along the way foster personal growth, helping us learn from mistakes and become better equipped to handle future difficulties.
Superficial engagement in something seldom brings a deep satisfaction, measurable growth or meaningful results.
It requires us to put in our very best efforts.
In summary, nothing of true value comes without a cost.
Whether in business, relationships, or personal development, paying the price is an essential step in attaining lasting success and fulfilment.
Think about your current challengeโ€ฆ
Are you paying the price and putting in enough effort?