Is their head in the sand?

“How do I get their head out of the sand?”
It’s a question I get asked about colleagues, team members, partners, friends and family, and it’s asked in relation to situations they believe could be improved if only the other person would accept there was a problem, and take appropriate action to resolve it.

It’s also a question asked when they believe they know what the solution is.
There’s a fundamental flaw in this perspective - the person, like me in the photo above, has to take their own head out of the sand.

We might encourage them but, ultimately, the decision is theirs. Which means there’s only so much we can do.
In some respects it’s what 'Can’t see the Wood for the Trees' was written for - to help people a little resistant to hearing advice from others, just like myself, to get out of a rut, stop treading water or going round in circles and to see the wood for the trees and get back on track. (Hint it’s available from all online stockists.)
One word of warning, it’s certainly easier to notice that others have their head in the sand than ourselves - which means when we’re getting frustrated with others it might be a red flag of our own lack of awareness and need for action.
hashtahashtag

I'm speechless...or I've become one of those authors

Wow - I’m still a little speechless (and you know me; that’s not often).

Here’s why.

20 years ago I can remember buying all the many books on the reading list for my trainer training. 

I remember looking up to those authors whose tools and techniques were making a difference in people’s lives. Admiring their creativity and authority in a subject that has the ability to transform lives.

At the time I introduced a coaching tool of my own and over the last 20 years have used it with many clients. I even wrote a book sharing the process so other coaches and trainers could use it in their work, and to provide a resource for people to dip into and read a few pages when they were struggling - a little TLC and support when they needed it.

Since its publication nearly a year ago, I’ve heard stories of people’s lives being positively impacted by the book.

Recently I heard that my book has been added to one trainer's reading list, and used as a source for some of the training content.

I have become one of those authors I admired and that has given me goosebumps.

When did you last reflect on the journey you’ve been on and the achievements realised that once upon a time were only a dream?

I laughed so loudly!

I laughed so loudly last week - you know the sort of laugh that emerges from realising something very obvious?!

I knew my book, 'Can’t see the wood for the trees', was written for people who are stuck to support them to get back on track.

I knew the book helped people when stressed to access a more resourceful mindset - exams being one such area I know it’s helped a lot recently.

I hadn’t appreciated until then, of course, also helps people who are facing what I was when I wrote the book - menopause!

The BBC breakfast programme featured the menopause last month, and it was said that it can be a very creative time for women.

Then it hit me - that’s when the book finally got written.

Then I laughed, very loudly and only as you know I can, because I wonder - did this version of the book I’d been wanting to write for years get written because I needed the advice. Did the chapters emerge out of that need?

At that time I could certainly resonate with:

• Can’t see the wood for the trees

• Stuck in a rut

• Going round in circles

• Up the creek without a paddle

• Out on a limb

• Missed the tide

• Treading water

• Like a fish out of water

We live and learn, and I will think very carefully about the subject for the next book.