I was meeting with a coaching client recently and we were talking about his new role. I’m sometimes inclined to ask the question, “how do you want to (or need to) show up?” For me, it’s a way of trying to get their attention about the possible need for behavior adjustments.

I asked this question to my client. He’s thoughtful and pondered it for a few moments. He then reframed the question: “You mean, how do I want to ‘fill the room?'” It’s a different way of thinking about my question and I love it. I especially like the spatial and visual connotations and the image that it evokes.

He knows that as a new leader of a strategic team, he cannot continue functioning as the senior leader of an operations team. This is a new and different role; they’re different animals! And when he, literally, walks into the room, he has to “fill it” differently than he has.

For example, he has to:

• Be less tactical – and more of a long-term visionary
• Be more of a thought-partner – less of an order-giver
• Listen more – speak less, while at the same time be an active, articulate participant and not a bench-warmer

No doubt, these behaviors could apply to the operations role too, but much less so than leading a team of very high-level corporate strategists.

How do you need to show up?  Or put another way, “how are you ‘filling your rooms?'” Your thoughtful answers and actions could make a world of difference!