Category: Journaling

For leaders aspiring to advance their own leadership or elevate their teams, or for HR and people development professionals seeking tailored coaching services, the HOORAY journey offers a strategic framework:

H – Heightening Self-Awareness:
At the heart of the HOORAY journey lies the pivotal step of heightening self-awareness. Leaders delve into a profound exploration of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, laying the foundation for intentional leadership. Understanding oneself becomes the catalyst for meaningful change and fostering purposeful leadership.

O – Originating Intrinsic Motivations:
Moving beyond self-awareness, the journey progresses into exploring intrinsic motivations – the internal compass guiding leaders’ actions. Delving into personal purpose, core values, and intrinsic motivations sets the stage for a purpose-driven leadership style. Leaders aligning their actions with deeply held values unlock a sense of direction and fulfillment that propels them and their teams forward.

Sometimes, we come across a scenic description or a beautiful landscape photo that deeply captivates us. We tell ourselves, even if we can’t go right away, this is a place we must visit someday! With this thought in mind, our everyday work and life, although routine, become more motivating; because now, all our efforts are turned into momentum, helping us reach that destination sooner. For instance, we might start saving diligently for travel expenses, spend time practicing English, learn about the local culture and attractions, or find like-minded travel companions through information sharing. When faced with an annoying boss, disagreeable colleagues, or overwhelming stress, glancing at that scenic photo pinned next to our computer reminds us that every step we take now is paving the way for that trip, instantly recharging us to overcome present challenges. This is the power of a heartfelt goal.

If our life or career development also had such a compelling picture we genuinely aspire to, it would undoubtedly make our daily work and life feel different. We would have a clearer understanding of the “why” behind every decision and action. This clarity would provide us with direction, motivation, focus, resilience, and joy on our journey towards our goals. This picture is what we call a vision. I often invite clients to depict their “vision.” Most respond that they understand the literal meaning but are unsure about the specifics. Why is having a vision essential? What happens if we don’t outline a vision for the next three to five years of our work or career?

I often have similar conversations with my executive clients.

Client: “I feel the need for a change. I’m considering enrolling in an EMBA program. What do you think?” Me: “How can an EMBA help you achieve your interim goals and reach your destination?” Client: “I don’t know…”

At this point, I usually suggest that the client first outline their career development vision and adopt a strategy of starting with the end in mind, working backward to determine current actions and decisions. Rather than discussing whether to enroll in an EMBA as an isolated decision, it’s more important to broaden the perspective, examine all possible paths between the vision and the current position, and evaluate the feasibility of various options. In this decision-making framework, an EMBA might be one of the choices, but it might not be.

These kinds of conversations are more common with mid- to senior-level executives. New managers are often busy learning how to lead effectively and adapting to their new roles. In contrast, experienced executives who excel at their work, or senior executives who see fewer upward opportunities, are more willing to pause, clarify “Where do I want to go? What do I want?” and then outline a vision.

Answering “What do I want?” is difficult for many because we are not accustomed to thinking about this topic. We unconsciously follow social norms or others’ expectations. Most people seem to succeed this way, and by adhering to universal values, they more easily gain recognition and support from those around them. As a result, we start to rely on others’ approval to define our worth, gradually losing connection with our own needs. Therefore, we are better at answering “What should I do?”