I’m always interested in the metaphors that come up for coachees when we are working together. They can give a rich picture and enable us to make connections – where sometimes words – can’t quite do the job. One that I found resonant this week, was the analogy of how people have metaphorical ‘shop windows’; in other words what do we see of people when we meet them, and how much – that is ‘shown’ in the ‘window’, is what is actually ‘in the shop’.

We used the metaphor in a number of ways:

• The fact that others’ windows aren’t always accurate – for a variety of reasons – there may be more or less in the shop – than is represented by the window. Do we compare our windows (usually unhelpfully) to others?
• Have we consciously decided what is in our own shop window – as a person/ leader? What do we ‘lead’ with when we go into situations? If we were going into situations with more awareness/ conscious choice -what would be in our shop window?
• Which windows are we drawn to ? What attracts us and repels us in others? Do we like something more obscured or something more upfront and obvious?

It’s made me more aware of what I might lead with and how these changes in my ‘shop window’– depend on the client/s I’m with. The window will be slightly rearranged depending on gender/ age/ sector/ and a whole host of other characteristics I perceive in the client. Some of the rearrangement of my shop window may be conscious – and some if it will be unconscious. How it is perceived by the client/s will also be a conscious reading and unconscious reading too.

So what you may be saying?

I think it’s good to reflect on what you want others to see – and dig into why we want to ‘lead with that’. How might we be more known to ourselves and others – to make good connections – with ourselves and in our relationships? Are we keeping others out? Are we selling something that we don’t in fact have? Are we not promoting something that we have an abundance of? Food for thought I hope…