As career practitioners, we have a common desire for our clients to thrive. We want what’s best for them and to help them get the results they desire. As we work with our clients, it can be easy to get wrapped up looking solely at them, instead of examining ourselves. But what if one of the key components of our clients’ success stems from our ability to model excellence to them?
Modelling excellence involves demonstrating to our clients the key beliefs, behaviours and strategies that can propel them toward even greater success. When we demonstrate these traits, it creates space for our clients to do the same.
Believing in our clients’ unlimited potential
The essential belief set that I operate by with every client, regardless of their situation, is that they are magnificent, they are doing the best they can with the resources they have and that they have unlimited potential within them. When I focus on these beliefs and demonstrate them to my clients, then they can begin to believe it as well.
If I were to be skeptical of my clients’ abilities or potential, then they would automatically become limited. Their success is linked to my belief in their potential. As soon as I believe in their magnificence, they can believe in it, too.
Setting a good example
In additional to modelling the confidence we want our clients to have in their potential, we must also ask, what key behaviours and traits are important to model to our clients? For example, if we want our clients to be organized and timely, then we need to be punctual and prepared for meetings with them. Of course, this goes much deeper than these commonly discussed skills. It also applies to their beliefs about themselves, their clarity, motivation, actions and results.
As a practitioner guiding my clients toward excellence, it is imperative that I remain focused on my own personal and professional growth. As we continue developing and accessing new heights, we are also faced with new challenges and barriers. By modelling to my clients that I am investing in my own growth and developing my own skill sets, I am reinforcing the fact that personal and professional development is a continuous journey. I am walking the talk, so to speak.
Modelling excellence requires me to embrace my challenges, learn from them, access new skills and resources so I can continue growing while also demonstrating success and professionalism to those around me who need to see it most.
Here is a quick exercise you can use to consciously model excellence to those around you:
- Begin by brainstorming the beliefs, states, traits, behaviours and habits that you want to model (i.e. passion, fulfillment, confidence, empowerment, clear communication, organization, accomplishment, positive energy, etc.).
- Think of a person who represents these traits to you.
- Close your eyes and picture yourself on a movie screen. Then bring in the picture of the person you want to model, with the features that you want to model as well.
- Next, imagine taking on this person’s traits, behaviours, features, etc. Merge them with the picture of yourself on the screen. Adjust your body to stand the way they stand, breathe the way they breathe, think they way they think, feel the way they feel, etc.
- Take a moment to recognize that you already have all of these amazing and powerful features within you, and lock them into place. Now, with intention, you have these traits and behaviours front of mind, to model them effectively to your clients.
Now that you have changed your behaviours to demonstrate the excellence that is inside of you, you can guide your clients to do the same.
