“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his head out.”
~James B. Conant

Have you ever wanted to stay in your own corner (or office) and just not get involved? Have you ever dreaded sharing your thoughts and opinions, certain that they would wreak havoc on the conversation or relationship? Have you ever wanted to stay within your comfort zone, where things are easy, where life seems fine?

I think we all have, and I even think there are times when those courses of action are actually the best choice for the moment to care for your mental and emotional state. But for progress, for growth, for moving ahead…you have to stick your head out and join the fray.

You have to be willing to take a chance and do what might be a bit harder. It could be speaking up more; it could be speaking up less. It could be pushing through and making things happen; it could be stepping back, taking a break, and letting things work out on their own. It could be opening up to others and trusting more; it could even be learning to hold back a bit and not spill everything to everyone.

Sticking our heads out means different things to different people, and in different situations. But it’s important that we Thoughtfully approach our present situation, think about our intentions and the people we want to connect with and influence, and then be willing to stick our heads out a bit and see what happens.

And see how we progress.

What does sticking your head out mean to you?
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If you enjoyed this post, you can read more like it in our book, The Power of Thoughtful Leadership: 101 Minutes To Being the Leader You Want To Be, available on Amazon.


If you want to make more progress, contact Lisa at lkohn@chatsworthconsulting.com.

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