Reach a New Level of Comfort and Confidence in 2018!

December 15, 2017

Hello everyone,

It's the holiday season -- and a reminder of how much we have to be grateful for as we close this year and look ahead to 2018.

I mentioned in last month's newsletter that living in conscious, active gratitude is part of my daily practice. I encourage my clients to embrace the same. It makes a difference in how we show up in the world, even in the most uncomfortable of times. The more thankful we are, the more confident we are. And the more confident we are, the more comfortable we become in any situation.

If anyone exudes confidence and comfort, it's Maureen Chiquet, former CEO of Chanel. I had the pleasure of chatting with Maureen during her San Francisco stop on her Beyond the Label: Women, Leadership and Success on Our Own Terms book tour.


I was curious about how Maureen first approached her new role at Chanel.


Often, new CEOs use their voice and power to shake things up right away. They do that in an attempt to overcome the discomfort they feel as newcomers to their roles -- though few, if any, would ever admit it.


I wanted to know: What was Maureen's first move when she stepped into the new CEO's shoes, embellished with that famous Chanel logo?


Turns out that Maureen's confidence and comfortableness was high; she didn't feel the need to shake things up right away. Instead, she spent her first year observing and asking questions. She knew this approach would give her the insight she needed to be successful in her leadership role.


It worked. Maureen leveraged what she learned to drive Chanel's worldwide expansion and ensure that all managers were equipped with the leadership skills necessary in today's business world.


When you're confident and comfortable with yourself, you observe with a different eye and ear. You seethrough anything that isn't central to your purpose. Your internal chatter no longer drowns out the information that you need to hear.


I often think of my conversation with Maureen when I find myself in uncomfortable spots. Instead of immediately reacting in a way that I think might make me feel better, I get quiet. I simply observe and ask questions so that I can see and hear whatever it is I need to understand -- not only for the moment, but for the long haul. And then I think about how I can bring comfort to the uncomfortable situation. I ask myself: How do I want to show up?


Each uncomfortable situation is an opportunity to better define yourself -- and Maureen's book is all about how she has come to define herself today. As you've heard me say so often, if you don't define yourself, someone else will. And their definition will generally underestimate who you are.


Maureen's event was a fundraiser for 10,000 Degrees, which helps underprivileged youth apply for, and enroll in, college. And here's one for the "small world" books -- 10,000 Degrees is a supporter of Scholly, created by my client Christopher Gray -- another executive who knows how to find comfort in uncomfortable situations. Read on for more about Christopher.


How will you reach a new level of comfort and confidence in 2018? What discomfort are you facing right now? What leadership skills are you hoping to master?


Let me hear from you -- I'd love to help.


Wishing you much warmth and happiness during this special season,

Charmaine McClarie

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