Be Here: Wherever You Are

Be Here: Wherever You Are.

“I am here, and I believe that you should be there, where you are” That was the statement I often start out with when we are engaged in executive leadership training. Most of the executives in the executive-coaching classes that we do overall in town sometimes do not actually get to understand the concept. “What?” some may ask, and sometimes I let it sink in a little before getting to work on it to everyone’s understanding

I know how difficult it is to be in the state of presence. It is still a hit or miss but I am getting better with each practice, and I must tell you; it is rewarding. The values I have gained so far. The natural principles and habits formed are felt immediately, and sometimes, they are felt at the end of the tunnel. The main purpose is to just be conscious of presence because you should feel and know it.

“It is not what you think it is,” said Eckhart Tolle in his widely acclaimed book that vividly presents being present in its objective form. It is not possible to think about presence, because the mind cannot understand what it is to stay in the present. The understanding of presence lies in being present, and how do you get to that destination? It takes a doing, it demands of you attitude of actions and present

By being there you become a part of what is, and by participating you get in the mix of what will be. Refined participation, informed actions and checking results that are aligned with values that determine the results we get.

In one of the leadership pieces of training, a participant told a story of what he witnessed a long time ago. It is about progress in one’s circumstance, life, paradigm, philosophy, and values.

What do you do Now?

Two men were seated on a bench taking a rest at the loading dock of shipping and logistics company. It was their break period and they had just finished their snacks and were waiting for the half hour break to be over. You know, just lounging, laughing everything off and making corny jokes when a luxury car pulled up. Their curiosity grew as to who was coming to the loading dock through the back entrance with such a fine car.

They looked at each other in wonderment. So many visitors drive up here in very fine cars but, they come in through the front entrance and park their cars at the visitors parking area.

Alighted from the car was a man with well-groomed greyed out bearded.

They noticed and admired the car and it is the occupant, more so of the car than of the man that just came out of the automobile and was now walking towards to go use the backdoor that is already held open by two uniformed guardsmen.

Missed Chances

As the man walked passed both middle-aged men he toned a familiarity greeting to one of the men, his name is Herold. “Hi Herold, how are you?”, the man said. “I am doing well Mr. George, long time! How are Debby and the kids?” Harold responded and asked in return. Mr. George went on to answer and ask “They are all doing great, how is the family?” “The grandkids are getting older now, right?”. “Yes they are, and we are all doing very well, thanks for asking” Herold replied, and as Mr. George walked past the guards that were holding the heavy brownish and freshly polished oak wooden door, he looked back at both men, waving at them he said; “Y'all take care now, you hear?” They both retorted, “and you too George/boss”

“Do you know who that is that you just …? I mean, do you really know that man that said hi to is?” Jeffery asked Harold. Gasping for air. “That is the Group General Manager of this company. He runs this great company and I hear he has a private plane that gets him where he wants to go fast. And you just called him by name as if you knew him in the past” His eyes lightening up with excitement, his body quivers with the pride and swagger of a kid that may have just shaken the hands of his favorite sports hero.

“Yes, I do know who that man is, we came here together; the same day we were employed and we started out doing the same thing that you and I are doing now” Herold replied. His head hanging low, his gaze seeming far and his all bubbly attitude a minute ago became withdrawn.

“You know, I don’t mean to ratchet it harder or something but, what happened? How come you are here all these while and he is up there? I must ask just know what happened so that I can make corrections if I am placed in that circumstance” Jeffery said to Harold as if he was actually making all attempts to distance himself from Harold.

The Body Tells the Story

He shifted from one cheek muscle to the other. Lifting his right thigh and placing his right-hand flat underneath and doing same to the left side as if in protest to how bad life has treated his friend for all these years. Muttering beneath his breath, he made a goiter audible that becomes a feeling of disdain for this company that he has grown to love after all this was the only company that gave him a chance when he got out of prison and couldn’t find a job.

Leadership Is Taking Action With Informed Philosophy

“You know Jeff!” Harold gently said. Still looking in the distance and the regrets of history visibly taking over him, the countenance of the face of this happy-go-lucky middle-aged tells all the stories there is about roads nothing, opportunities not sized and paradigm not shifted.

“When we got here! The time we got here after our interviews, selection, and orientation, and training” Harold said with a childish shines, fear and guilt. Pausing in between words and swallowing hard as if he was making every attempt to keep the breath of air that has just gone down is lungs down there.

The veins on his neck are all stretched now, and on a closer look, you will relatively the throbbing of his heart as it increases and you may actually sense the steady and rapid collision of blood platelets as they leave is the brain in search oxygenated mixture.

One Characteristic of Leadership is Initiative

“Jeff” Harold called out again. “When we got started out, Mr. George, the now present GGM came to work for the company with everything he got. He was here but I, for me, I came to work for three dollars and a quarter” “You know” he continued, “these things don’t go unnoticed”

Now, I want you to follow through with this exercise that I learned from the wonderful book about staying in presence. Close your eyes, and loudly say to yourself: "I wonder what my next thought is going to be." Now, become very alert and wait for the next thought. Be like a cat watching a mouse hole. What thought is going to come out of the mouse hole? Try it now.  

Here, fill in what your thoughts are ………….

Leadership character is developed if you go, if you ask, if you seek and if you knock. I must tell you that staying in a state of intense presence opens and gets you ready for service right there and then where you are, to contribute where you are. You will find and helps you make a choice when you get to the two roads that diverged in a rough terrain. – It worked for me