Working Genius & Coaching [Wonder]
Wonder is the first in the lineup for Working Genius.
Wonder is the start of .... well....everything. Nothing new starts without this essential first step.
People with the Working Genius of Wonder have a natural tendency to think of new versions of what is or completely new ideas of what could be. In short, they have a propensity to see what might be out there.
I like to think of wonder thoughts as seeds. Planters often have a lot more seeds than actually take root, but without seeds, there can be no plants.
If you have a client who has this genius they will easily dream about possibilities and depending on their second genius they may, or may not, need direction in choosing which dreams to pursue.
Clients who have Wonder as a frustration (one of their two lowest-scoring geniuses) will likely have difficulty, or be frustrated coming up with dreams or potential long-term goals. I see this all the time with faithful people who are truly put out by thoughts for their retirement, or their Sabbatical, or even upcoming vacations.
As a coach, if you have Wonder as a genius you will be able to help those who need assistance considering possible future goals, however, you will need to be cautious not to add more "seeds" to clients who already have plenty of ideas on their own. That will be challenging. Two people who both have Wonder as a genius can spend hours just pondering what could be together. This time spent dreaming together could make great ideas truly come into focus, or it could simply add more and more "seeds" to choose from, risking a sort of goal-choice paralyzation.
Choosing a focus from the many and varied possibilities will be the challenge for the client who has Wonder as a genius. It can be difficult for the Wonder person to "call it" and say they have done enough wondering and say it is time to move on.
Remember Working Genius says every job is a 6 letter job. I would add that every coaching session is a 6 letter job as well.
Everything that ever was at one time started with, "What if?"
There are so many WONDERfull verses about dreaming and planning. (See what I did there?)
Here are a few to kick off our first letter of Working Genius: Wonder.
O Love my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. Psalm 40:5
We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the answer. Proverbs 16:1
Plans succeed through good counsel; don't got to war without wise advice. Proverbs 20:18
We all know that every coaching journey starts with a destination. Whether you are a coach or a client, don't choose too soon! Take your time, discerning and clarifying the goal is a very important first step.
If I am honest, this can be a fault for me. I sometimes choose a goal without walking through the valuable process of discerning if the goal is right for me, or if it is the right time. I tend to start too soon and push too hard. I need a coach to ask me questions about timing, pacing, and even whether the goal is in line with the bigger vision.
Just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should!
To recap, everything, absolutely everything starts with Wonder, but just because you wonder it doesn't mean it should be done or that now is the right time. And if you, or your client, doesn't have Wonder for a genius find someone who does! They will be happy to get lost in the possibilities with you for you!
Happy Wondering!