Do you like this acorn I drew?

I’m a freshly minted art student. An earnest, but slightly out of practice one! With my pencils and notepad in tow, I eagerly stepped into Drawing for Beginners at Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center last week. This clunky acorn is the result. Frame worthy? I don’t think so, but that’s not the point.

Neither is a grade; just lovely, Ms. Sarah encouraging me to watch my proportions and deepen the shaded areas. ✏️

As a coach, I regularly encourage my clients to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. Not just for the sake of change, but to grow toward the leader they want to be. It may take a few times to get the hang of things, but trying something you’re not good at immediately, challenges every part of us. Especially my superstars.

As a leader, we are required to do all the right things – even if we’re uncomfortable doing them. That means shining a light on others, publicly telling people how awesome they are, highlighting others’ successes, not our own, being vulnerable when we aren’t confident, making space for new people at our table, admitting when we’re wrong, being bold in sharing our vision, seeking to understand others in tough situations and so much more.

While drawing an acorn was a fun and non intimidating activity, sharing it with you is vulnerable. I’m not good at drawing – yet!

This post is for you. You try drawing the acorn, get close, miss the mark and try again. It’s harder than it looks and some people make it look easy. We all know it’s not. It always requires hard work, self reflection and honesty. And as Ms. Sarah also says, it helps to “step away and look at the bigger picture.” That’s what coaching and professional development offer. A time to step away and refine the edges.

Thanks for taking a look at my drawing. It’s even okay if you laughed at it. I did too. I’m going to keep trying. Who knows, next week, I may draw an oak tree!

When was the last time you tried something that you weren’t good at?