Tillitonse - A Transformational Journey Together

  The Glass, the Ball, and the Muscle:  A Simple Metaphor for Resilience We’ve all had days at work (or in life) when we feel like we’re falling apart, getting knocked around, or being stretched to our limit. In a recent coaching session, I found myself using a simple metaphor that landed well — so I thought I’d share it here, with a real-life story woven in. Three Ways We React to Challenge Imagine three objects: A glass — if it falls, it shatters. A ball — if it falls, it bounces back to exactly how it was. A muscle — if it is stretched and stressed, it becomes stronger. But if it’s not used, it gets weaker. Each of these represents a mindset we might carry when dealing with adversity. 🫙 “I’m like glass — if something goes wrong, I’ll break.” 🏀 “I should be the ball — bounce back instantly and perfectly.” 💪 “I’ll be the muscle — stretch, adapt, and grow.” The truth? Most of us are some combination of the three. But over time, with awareness and supp...

  The “Ouch-That’s-Me” Club:  Why Taking Feedback Feels Like Chewing Lemons (and Why We Should Do It Anyway) Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself biting my tongue in a few coaching conversations. Quite an achievement, if I may say so. 🫢 Let me tell you about one of those moments (names changed, drama lovingly retained). Meet Sam Sam is a dynamic, successful leader in her late 40s. She’s leading a bold new initiative that brings together several organizations. Think: coalition, collaboration, coordination — and yes, conflict . In a recent coaching chat, Sam was visibly upset. One of her key partners had refused to take responsibility for mistakes made on his side. He was defensive, finger-pointing, and doing the classic “blame everyone else but me” dance. 🕺 Sam’s frustration? Completely valid. But as we talked, I asked her — gently at first: “Is there any chance you might have made a mistake too?” Cue: silence. Then some elegant sidestepping. I tried agai...