November Gratitude: Bold Moves, Human Harder, and Co-Creating the Future

November always nudges me to pause. This year, that pause is full of gratitude—for my fellow coaches, for the clients (“thought partners”) who entrust me with their growth, and for the chance to attend ICF Converge 2025 in San Diego last month. Connecting with like-minded peers and reconnecting with colleagues whose work I admire was energizing. I left deeply grateful for this community and reminded that our work is not only about methods and models; it is about the people who bring those tools to life.

What I am taking forward

1) Bold moves in small ways
Courage is a daily discipline. Big leaps matter, yet it is the steady inches that change a quarter and, eventually, a career. One brave question. One clear boundary. One invitation to collaborate. Practiced consistently, these small moves build momentum others can feel and follow.

2) Human harder
Perfection closes doors. Authenticity opens them. I am choosing to lean into and amplify my quirky, messy, imperfect self. When we “human harder,” we create psychological safety and signal that others can bring their full selves to the work. Recently, on the way to Converge, we stopped to hike Convict Lake in Mammoth (picture above). A footbridge had washed out, and the only way forward was across unstable logs. Strangers quickly became a team: we formed a human chain and passed a nature-made walking stick from person to person to steady each step. Because we connected, literally, we reached the other side and the beauty beyond. That is “human harder” in action: quick trust, shared problem-solving, and progress none of us could have made alone.

3) E.L.M.O. — Enough, Let’s Move On
Momentum requires decisions. Naming “ELMO” kindly and clearly protects attention, honors time, and keeps the group in motion. I recently saw a playful cue work beautifully on Zoom: a tiny Elmo puppet slowly and quietly raised into the corner of the screen when the discussion began to loop. No shaming, no sharp interruption, just a gentle, visual nudge that prompted smiles and a smooth pivot to the next steps. The key was a clear agreement up front: “ELMO” meant, “We have enough to act; progress continues.”

4) When intelligence is only rational, we narrow ourselves
Data and logic are essential. So are imagination, empathy, curiosity, and pattern recognition. When we define intelligence only as rational, we miss the signals that move people. Leaders who widen the lens engage hearts and minds, which is how strategy becomes behavior.

5) The future is not created; it is co-created
Enduring change is built with people, not for them. Invite influence early. Share ownership generously. Align on outcomes, then shape the path together. Co-creation may feel slower at first, but it creates commitment that lasts.

Gratitude in practice

Gratitude is not just a sentiment; it is a performance advantage. It widens perspective, steadies emotions, and strengthens relationships, the very conditions that allow challenging work to move forward.

• Name three people who lifted you recently. Tell them why.

• Choose one small bold move for this week. Put it on your calendar.

• Ask one curiosity question that invites co-creation: “What are we not seeing that matters?”

Thank you to my fellow coaches and the ICF community for the ideas and encouragement that keep this work vibrant. With gratitude for this community and the shared work ahead, I look forward to continuing the work of building leadership with clarity, confidence, and character.