Waiting My Turn

Guest Contributor: Michael Lipp
Michael's Posts - Michael's Blog


One of the things I keep learning from the Mastermind groups I'm in is waiting for my turn. I keep bumping into my own ego - I keep wanting everyone to be there for me - for me to tell them what they should do and for everyone concentrating on supporting what I want. Particularly those times when I'm either bubbling up with ideas or doubling over with problems

I'd like to think that's only my past showing up. I have overcome that (hah!) But I haven't. And it keeps teaching me the most important part of the Mastermind. I have to listen. And no matter how well I think I listen, there's still more to it.

I'm a coach and the most valuable thing I bring to any coaching session is the way I listen. Clients get much more from my listening than they do from anything I say.

The most valuable Mastermind listening happens when someone other than me is offering coaching to someone else. Even when I know that I'm not particularly interested in that person's problem. Because I've discovered that I'm very interested in that person. But besides that, no one ever speaks only to that person and only about their issue. They are always speaking to me about my issue; I just have to listen.

So my foolish impatience keeps my attention in the wrong place. When I'm only interested in me, I am not paying attention to what is very likely my most valuable input.