I have learned so much from my business & leadership coaching sessions with Michael Sonbert of Rebel Culture. He has been coaching me for well over a month now and it has changed my leadership and opened up perspectives and insights that I have never considered before. Consequently, he has made the lives of over 40 individuals in SEO Hacker (if you didn’t know, we are the #1 SEO services company in the Philippines) better.
One of the things that I opened up to him with is my struggle with not seeing myself during internal meetings. Why do I put out a loud voice? Why do I feel like my opinions and thoughts need to be heard and followed? Why do I not see that some people get emotionally hurt when I say things in a very strong way?
This was the main point of discussion in our last coaching session and he said something to me that was a sickening realization of myself.
I’m unable to write it here verbatim but I’ll try my best to capture the essence of what he said:
As the entrepreneur, the founder and the CEO you are always going to be a street fighter who is out for blood. You will always feel strongly about your business because it’s something you started and you poured your life and thoughts and emotions into.
But you need to transition out from that person because your organization has evolved. You’re in a much better place now. You don’t need to fight tooth and nail anymore. You need to listen more and talk less. You need to help and serve your people as a leader.
Yes you will need that street fighter in you so you need to keep that guy in there but only when the time is right for that guy to stand out.
I realize when people say things that I don’t agree with in regards to SEO Hacker, I flare up. I don’t say mean words but my posture, my tone of voice and my words become very sharp. I am out for blood.
This has to change.
Michael says that as the CEO and founder I already have the loudest voice in the room. I already have the weightiest opinion even if I don’t say it. I already have the last say and the decision. I don’t need to make a point out of it anymore. It’s fact.
What I need to do is speak softer and listen more.
I need to remember this. I must remember this. I must improve and be better as a leader.
I hope this post has helped you out – especially if you struggle with the same tendencies as I do. I am in the long journey of improving myself and I know it is a journey that will only end when God calls me home.