While interviewing Tama Kieves for my Leading With A Whole New Mind podcast, we talked about what it looks like for her to be a boundary crosser, a term used in the book to indicate someone who is comfortable in many worlds.  She said something profound (which Tama is known to do often!)

"While others assume no connection [between two worlds], I always assume there is a connection. I just have to find it."  While she was practicing law, this meant taking a concept from one legal situation and applying it to a completely different legal situation. Now, as a career coach, author, and speaker, she uses this "assume a connection" mindset to address many different audiences.

This got me thinking. I was coaching a client on being in situations where he didn’t feel he had control.  What if instead of assuming no control, assume there is control?  What would his life be like then?   As it happened, my client told me about a specific incident where a work decision had been made that on the surface, didn’t seem to involve his input. Upon later investigation, he realized that a previous discussion with his manager had driven the entire decision. In other words, he had more control than he thought.

Assume connections, even if you don’t see one.

Assume you have control, even if you don’t feel like you have it.