Beware of Your Mind-Maps
MY POOR HEAD IS IN SUCH A WHIRL, MY MIND IS ALL IN BITS.
– Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Are your mind-maps playing tricks on you?
I have lots of guests in my home from all around Australia and the world through being a host with Airbnb. It reminds me to appreciate how similar we all are.
It doesn’t matter what part of the world people come from, the fundamentals are the same – we want a happy and healthy life with purpose and meaning for us and our nearest and dearest.
It also reminds me to be aware of my mind-maps.
One of my guests was a woman from Iran. She had come to stayat my home to complete a program at Prince Charles Hospital which is a large hospital specialising in heart health.
She asked me if she could stay for a month. I asked her was she a nurse. She said no she was a cardiologist.
Honestly, as the word “nurse” came out of my mouth I knew my mind-maps had tripped me up. I saw an Iranian woman. Because of my perception of a male-dominated Muslim culture, I had assumed she would not be encouraged or even allowed to be educated as a doctor, therefore she must be a nurse.
Please don’t think that my example shows that I’m comparing the value of professions. I’m not.
My example highlights that our perception of what women do in our world is deeply cemented in our minds including me.
In the western world, we are used to seeing tall, white men as our leaders. Men have traditionally occupied the public space – business, politics, government and women the private space – home, caring for children and caring professions.
Our mind maps are our mind’s way of processing our world. If we had to make each decision fresh every time throughout each and every day, we would go insane.
Our mind loves to make connections and associations between bits of information. Mind-maps are the results. We feel more comfortable when we are surrounded by order. Our mind isdetermined to keep us safe and happy.
If you are aspiring to be a woman leader in your career, you need to understand what mind-maps you have built around this role. The perception that women see each and every day (and still today) is that we are the homemakers, carers and supporters.
I’m not saying that this is wrong. I’m just saying that your mind may need new maps to be an effective leader.
My research for my book “Women As Leaders – The World Needs You” highlighted to me that women’s unique neuro- programming means that our journey into leadership is distinctly different.
This is the reason why I have developed my specifically tailored Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Programs.
In my program, I start with a process of awareness of what neuro-programming has been established for you around your view of yourself and your achievements to-date. We thenuncover your mind-maps so that you can see if they aresupporting your success or potentially holding you back.
With this awareness, we look at ways to establish new more effective mind-maps for what you are wanting to achieve. This then allows you to aspire for whatever you dream for your life.
For the men reading this newsletter, I hope it has given some insight into the women around you and maybe even question your mind-maps about your role!!!
Thankfully, the Iranian woman that came to stay with me through Airbnb didn’t seem to be offended by my assumption that she was a nurse. We had an amazing month together exploring each other’s mind-maps about our worlds. We have become close friends through our discoveries and I hope to visit Iran one day and meet her family and friends.
My Women’s Empowerment and Leadership programs are being run regularly throughout 2018 with the first program starting 1stand 2nd February 2018. CLICK HERE for more details.
