At one point in my executive career, I had a vacancy in my department for an assistant director position. I decided to open it to people outside the department to interview for the position rather than limit myself to my internal group.

Hilary, a supervisor on my staff, was upset that she had not been solicited to apply for the position. She approached me distraught and asked why she had not been promoted into that role. I replied that what I was looking for did not seem to be a match to her skill sets.

Hilary could have gotten angry and defensive; she might have gone to HR, filed a complaint or even quit in anger. Instead, she went home and thought about it.

That evening, Hilary spoke to a good friend and reviewed her options. As a result, she was able to make a positive shift in her emotions. She drafted a plan to meet the criteria I had outlined for that role, including what she would do to learn skills she needed to strengthen.

Well, of course I hired her. Even though she fell short in some skills I needed, I knew I wanted her and that she would be a great role model in how to handle emotions in the workplace.

Hilary had shifted how I thought about her and created a space that she could grow into.

Because she chose to focus on her desire instead of her fear, Hilary created a feel-good moment. She felt good about herself, and, as a result, she was inspired to provide me with what I needed to feel good about her in that role. The outcome was that she was with me for many years and did a fabulous job.

A Life Coach Certification can help you create a space for yourself and others and give you an edge to kick up your own renewal and growth.