What Pain Are You Feeling?

I run for fun and to keep fit.

I have been running for a very long time.  After so many years, my body is beginning to reap the fruits of pounding miles and miles of pavements and trail paths.

Each time I go out for walk/run, right after the first two miles, I will start to feel the pinches, and the pain in different places which is something that has been happening for some time now.  

On one such days recently, I started pondering about pain.  How do we deal with pain?  

I checked in within myself and remembered the different times I have felt pain, physical, emotional, light pain, intense pain, you name it. 

And I realized that I respond to pain sometimes and numb the pain sometimes.   

My body responds to pain that is inflicted on it in different ways. Sometimes, I shift my weight to the other leg when one leg starts to hurt, and I start limping.  I know the different times that I have hopped on one leg along the trail path.

Sometimes, I simply put on knee support for a temporary relief and hope that the pain magically withers away instead finding or getting to the root of the problem for a lasting solution.

When you feel pain, what do you do? 

Leadership, like life itself, is not immune to pain. While the concept of pain is often associated with physical, emotional, or mental challenges, drawing parallels with physical pain can offer unique insights into leadership dynamics.

What are the pains you are feeling right now in your body, in your organization or in your community?

What are you doing about it?

Within the intricate ecosystem of organizations, pain can manifest in myriad forms. It may surface as disengaged employees, high turnover rates, or stagnant growth. 

It could stem from inefficient processes, communication breakdowns, or a lack of alignment with core values and objectives.

Have you as the team lead or senior executive tried to shift the responsibility to someone else and hope that the problem goes away somehow because it makes you uncomfortable just like I try to do with my knee pain?

As leaders, it is essential to confront these pain points head-on, rather than sweep them under the rug or perpetuate a culture of avoidance and excuse making.

By acknowledging the areas of friction and dysfunction within our organizations, we open the door to meaningful change and innovation. 

Through honest reflection, open dialogue, and a willingness to embrace discomfort, we can foster a culture of continuous improvement and create environments where both individuals and the organization can thrive without excuses.

So, I invite you to reflect on the pains you are feeling right now—in your body, in your organization, and in your community. 

What lessons do they hold? What changes are they calling you to make?

At Authentic Transformations, we help organizations eliminate culture of avoidance and excuse making so individuals can unleash their authentic capabilities. 

Through individual and team coaching, experiential training and keynotes, we support organizations and their leaders in identifying the source of pain and root of excuses so they can address these issues. 

Our 5R-Leadership RenewalTM, an executive leadership retreat program offers executive teams the space and guided approach to check within to identity pain-points and brainstorm solutions.

Connect with us to see how we can support your team and organization.