by Regan MacBain Traub, CPC, Founder & Managing Principal, The Human Resource Consortium LLC
Actualization
Self-actualization is the achievement of reaching one’s full potential. Actualization may also be a key motivating factor in one’s life and in career counseling as a theme for an individual’s life.
Ambition + Attitude + Ability + Advisors + Agency + Authenticity = Actualization
Ambition is your desire to accomplish an inspired achievement, whether a higher performing physical, emotional or spiritual personal state or material (family, professional, financial, etc) goal.
Attitude is how you show up in your thinking, feeling, and behaving – when you’re alone or with others. An actualizing attitude includes determination to achieve success without fear of failure, sense of inner calm and positive self-messaging, curiosity, eagerness to learn by listening to and collaborating with others, authenticity and approachability, and resilience.
Ability is your innate capability to achieve work or family responsibility or a particular personal goal or ambition – by yourself or with the support of others collaborating with you. Ability includes Agility, your stretch capacity to rapidly adapt and flexibly respond to new or changing circumstances and demands.
Advisors are those who serve to teach, guide, and/or challenge us throughout our lives – family, teachers, organizational and community leaders and co-workers, clergy, and friends.
Agency is your ability to act fully (take action, advise others, make decisions, etc.) within the construct of your role whether in a family, organizational, civic, or other type of role.
Authenticity is your showing up – being, thinking, speaking, and feeling – true to your highest self. When people hear you speak, they see you as speaking from your intellect and heart (without arrogance, hidden agenda, or disingenuity).
I hope that the examples below of how the 6A’s have contributed to my life’s fulfillment, resilience, and joy provide you with inspiration, hope, and a path by which you can achieve your personal dreams.
Failed Dreamer or Accomplished Innovator?
- During 8 years as a search consultant before envisioning the need for and founding The Human Resource Consortium, I worked with mid-sized and large financial services and healthcare organizations. Siloed HR functions and my efforts to support them resulted in persistent struggles to attract and retain desired talent in their organizations. With early career years in Operations, I’d experienced greater efficacy through integrated systems approaches and learned quickly it wasn’t being utilized in HR and wondered why. My research revealed only a couple consulting firms in the western U.S. were even talking about it. This realization became a mission in my life – to guide organizations to far greater organizational performance and wellbeing through a team of exceptional experts. I founded The Human Resource Consortium in 1995 (ambition). In 2017, David Ulrich’s (Father of Modern HR) global research of 1,395 business units (including 31,868 respondents of which 3,964 represented HR leaders) published in “Victory Through Organization” proved that aligned and integrated approaches in HR drive 4X organizational performance and value. Our deep expertise in human dynamics and systems’ thinking enables this transformative lift.
- Growing up, I was blessed with parents who believed in my ability to do most anything to which I set my mind – whether it was dressing myself as a toddler, learning to play bassoon within 2 years because the school orchestra needed the ability, or attaining honors in high school after receiving a “D” in junior high school algebra. I was determined to learn and grow. I had confidence that if integrated systems approaches were successful in Finance and in Operations, it should be the case for HR. I had learned to trust my ‘gut.’ And, I knew that if I failed, I had friends, family, and advisors who would help me to rebound – it would not be the end of me. Before I opened the firm, I tested the perspectives of business and HR leaders which provided me with a sense of early receptivity, prepared a conservative budget, and planned the business launch. My attitude was that of full commitment to my dream and to learn what I could achieve if I focused. I also knew that if it didn’t work, I could go back to staffing. As it’s said, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” It’s now 30 years later and I’m living my dream.
- While I had a vision, concept, and some of the ability to effect this complex work, I needed a team of experts who possessed greater expertise than I and shared this vision to create greater success for clients (developing ability). Our team continues to grow with now over thirty (30) experts who deliver significant wins (agility), even when clients label their challenge as a ‘mission impossible.’
- Leading a team of exceptional consultants authentically is an honor and continual blessing… and on occasion, a challenge to my continued growth as a leader. Heartfelt, curious conversations with business and community leaders helps us stay current on challenges being faced as well as approaches that worked, did not, why, and the costs. I’ve taken to heart lessons learned from my team, clients, husband, parents, teachers, and friends (advisors) about what I did want to model as a human, woman, and leader.
- Agency and accountability are inherent in owning a start-up business … you do most everything and some days it was a bit overwhelming. As our organization grew, delegation of accountability among trusted leaders is what enabled us to thrive and continue our expansion and innovation, requiring greater readiness to embrace others’ leadership, perspectives, and innovations.
- Launching a consulting firm with a very different perspective and promise required commitment and courage. Some conversations caused me to question whether my mission was misplaced judgment. Yet, I held firm. Being recruited by renowned professional association as a volunteer leader for numerous regional and national undertakings for many years helped quell intermittent feelings of doubt. Surrounding myself with individuals I trust personally and professionally I have chosen to be my authentic self who continues to actualize. I am honored and humbled by the trust placed in us by leaders of F500s, mid-caps, and smaller organizations where investments in time, money, and reputation matter greatly. Our website (www.thehrc.com) shares our partnerships and journeys with many.
Personal Resilience Resurgence
- While growing up, I wanted to dance. Music and the grace of professional trained dancers moved me (ambition).
- As an early teen, I took a bad fall in a jazz class which was emotionally and physically painful. As a later teen, I tried out for the cheerleading dance team and was swiftly dismissed in the first round of tryouts while my friends made the team, much to my chagrin. In my 20s, a friend taught me to dance which then created a social preoccupation (developing ability).
- Shortly after my husband died, the call to dance returned…spiritually loud and clear, a profound experience. In this instance, my attitude was that of surrender to the powerful message I had received. Without hesitation, I found a proximate dance studio where 14-16 hours a week dance training served as my grief therapy – physically, emotionally, socially, and a couple years later, creatively. It also served as an escape from what would have otherwise been dreaded dining without my soulmate. As I released stress, healed my heart, and built connection with others, I began competing as a regional, lower and mid-level amateur then, with persistence, competing and winning nationally at top levels in International, American, and theater arts modes. (agility).
- I could not have accomplished my ambition without expert advisors who taught me with deep caring and unrelenting demand for precision. The right teacher does so with heartfelt commitment, lifting you up (pun not intended!) and guiding you to create artistic, flowing movement when you’re not even sure you’re brave enough. They are gratified by the progress they see in you as a result of their patient and determined guidance.
- Once I advanced into the top levels, I began to envision and create choreography for competitive routines. While some was scrapped, it was often adopted by my internationally known professional instructor (agency).
- At the start, I felt safe in the studio to be true to my heart when meaningful music brought me to sobbing tears (authenticity). A year later I pushed through complex routines with increasing confidence and competence. I’d occasionally recall my high school experience and quietly celebrated my new found accomplishments. My spirit/heart was now being expressed through art with my invitation to others to feel the internal emotional strength and physical ability (actualization)…to perhaps experience it for themselves to aid in their journey. Most importantly, it spurred the resurgence of my resilience and poise to get me back on track to become my full self (authenticity) once again.
We all know people who have the ability to positively influence our ability to actualize. When we prove the good intentions and potential in us through meaningful connection with others over time, it’s remarkable how those with caring hearts will be there for us in times of our need. When our chips are down, we can choose to isolate and linger in our misery or turn to our trusted advisors to fuel our resilience toward becoming our full, actualized self.
With what and who will you choose to actualize – to become the best version of yourself?
