In my post “Acreditar–Sonhar–Planejar–Executar”, I wrote about my presentation to sophomores of two renowned universities in Brazil and briefly covered the four elements of coaching “Belief-Dream-Plan-Execute”. To give a better perspective of each element, I decided to post four articles covering each of them and today it is about
“BELIEF”.
When I published the article in Portuguese back in August, a friend of mine wrote to me asking “Domingos, shouldn’t “dream” come prior to ‘belief’?” and my answer in form of question was “can someone dream about achieving something without believing he/she can accomplish that?” well, some people may possibly can but I personally trust that everything starts with BELIEF… Could Neil Armstrong have kicked up the dust on the moon if he didn’t believe he could get there? Before dreaming about that accomplishment and to plan the steps he first believed. (For those of us who believe that he was there J)
I recently started the mentoring session with one of the talents as an agreed action from that lecture on the university. We are using the four elements of coaching as a platform and now moving into ‘DREAM’ phase. In our first session when we were discussing the approach and steps, basically making the agreement on ‘BELIEF’ phase, he said “Domingos, I still don’t know how or what but something I know, I am confident and I will do great things!” referring to his future after university. Hearing that thought, “WOW” and I verbalized saying “well, that’s why we are talking today right? It is for me to help you finding the ‘what’ and ‘how’! or dream, plan and execute.”
“One of the most powerful forces in the world is the will of the man who believes in himself, who dares to aim high, to go confidently after the things that he wants from life” Rich the Vos.
I found his statement fabulous and arouse in me the genuine desire to help him making it happen. It is clear that both of us believe in him, in his potential and that keeping such attitude and mindset he will achieve whatever he commit himself to do. You will hear more about him in the future.
In my posts, I like to share real stories and the below one is from Meiji era. Have you heard about Onami? To me, this is a great story about believe of both, coach and coachee!
Onami was a great wrestler who lived in the Meiji era. His name meant Great Waves. Onami had a peculiar problem. He was a master in wrestling and in private, could overthrow even his teachers. In public, however, he would become so bashful that even his pupils could defeat him with ease.
Onami decided to approach a Zen master for resolving his problem. A roving teacher named Hakuju had just come into town on his travels and was staying at the temple. Onami went to him with his problem.
“So your name means Great Waves!” said the master. “Stay tonight in this temple. Imagine that you are indeed those huge billows. You are no longer a shy wrestler. Instead, you are those powerful waves, inundating everything in your path, sweeping everything away. Do this and your worries will vanish. You will become the greatest wrestler ever known.”
The teacher retired for the night. Onami sat quietly in meditation. He thought about what the master had said. He tried imagining himself as ocean waves. Many thoughts flitted through his mind. Slowly, his mind kept going back to the waves. The hours crept by. The waves began growing higher and higher. They swept away the temple vases. By the time the sun came up, the temple had disappeared; all that remained was a vast sea, ebbing and flowing.
When the priest awoke and came to Onami, he found the wrestler still deep in meditation, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The priest patted him gently. “Now, nothing can defeat you. You have become those great waves.”
Onami went back to wrestling the same day. From then on, he never lost a contest.
The strength of the mind is as limitless as the ocean.
Overall, belief is about believing in oneself and that he/she can become a better version of itself. For the coach, believing that can and will make a difference in the lives of others through coaching. Believing in the potential of others to grow and succeed with his/her help. This is what the eminent American psychologist Carl Rogers calls “practice unconditional positive regard” for others.
How about you, how much do you believe in yourself and, being a leader/coach, how much do you believe that you will make the difference in the lives of others?
It is never too late to get started!!!!
