A conversation between the authors of Live With Intent, Thomas Reichart and Justin Tomlinson.
Justin:
Arrogant? “Yes.” said my coach Betsy, “Your profile indicates that you are perceived by some of your raters as arrogant.” Of course there were positive attributes too. Many of them. But what if the core of my identity really was arrogance?
I started with denial. “Not me! I’m not arrogant.” Then came anger, with most of it directed at the LCP. It must be flawed. The questions must be wrong. I’m the least arrogant person I know, and yet there it was. I began a bargaining process within my results. I was creative and somehow also arrogant? I was perceived as having good relationships and yet still arrogant, how could this be?
Depression. Is this really who I am? Yes. The LCP is a snapshot of who I am and a very important tool in my journey of creating my desired identity. Identity: The center of it all. Who am I? Who do I want to be? How can this information help me in this journey?
Thomas:
I find many people have a similar reaction when they first see their LCP graph. Luckily, once you understand the answers to those basic questions, your profile begins to make sense and can guide you to impactful insights. What changed your mind about the profile?
Justin:
I needed more information. I became certified in the LCP and learned about its nuances, reflection, opportunities, and catalyst points. I hadn’t realized that a change was necessary in these specific areas, but based on my results, I needed to course correct. This was not convenient nor was it easy.
Thomas:
That is exactly what I love about the LCP as a tool – it’s a disruptor: “You have my attention, now what?” Most people, myself included, aren’t fully satisfied with their initial results. Somehow seeing ourselves through others’ eyes can feel like a poke in the eye. The way I see it, the irritating twinge that can be provoked by the report is a valuable insight, but not the most relevant part of the LCP. The most important part of this tool is how accurately it helps us see our strengths. Once we know how to interpret our report, the disruption leads us on a journey of capitalizing on our strengths and being more intentional about making a meaningful contribution.
Justin:
Yes, that’s it! “A more meaningful contribution” is where the concept of identity kicks in. Once we see the opportunity to reinvest reactive energy from “below the line” into the creative space “above the line”, our questions go from defensive to proactive. For me, accepting my results was a catalyst to ask the following questions: Where am I going? What is my unique value-add? Where can I have the greatest impact? What legacy do I want to leave? The answers now define my identity and what I call “Finding Your Horizon”.
Thomas:
I agree, the LCP is a great baseline to answer the question: Where are you now, as perceived by you and your stakeholders? Finding your horizon gives the LCP a further relevance enabling clarity around where you want to go. Combining where you are now with where you are going further defines identity.
Justin:
In corporate leadership development, trends come and go. A new book, concept, or idea sweeps through a company, then recedes to make way for the next big thing. Every once in a while, one of these concepts is a disruptor with so much staying power that its value supersedes “the next big thing.” It continues to challenge the status quo and deliver transformational results.
Thomas:
The Leadership Circle Profile is a data-driven disruptor with intrinsic strength and stamina based on principles promoting individual growth. The data is revelatory without psychological or emotional interpretations – that is truly powerful, and combined with a more comprehensive look at identity, further increases the value created by both individuals and organizations.
Justin:
The more intentional we are in understanding and creating our identity, the more we will scale our contribution toward the people and causes we care most about.
The key to unlocking your LCP is understanding your IDENTITY.
