Turbo Leadership Systems^™

High Engagement Low Attachment

Jane, nursing supervisor and health management coordinator for a Portland healthcare organization, told Session 4 of Turbo’s Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

“In March 2006, after some prompting from my dad, I applied for a 4-year full-ride scholarship through my dad’s employer, the Halton Company. At that point I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to college. I sure didn’t want to have to work while going to college full time, and having to pay back a huge student loan didn’t appeal to me either. I had arranged to schedule the prescreening qualification interview and thought, ‘I’ll give it all I’ve got. If I don’t receive the scholarship, there is another plan for me.’

“On the day of the interview I felt composed and confident, like I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. If I qualified for the scholarship, I knew it could be a positive turning point in my life. About a week after the interview, my phone rang. It was Sue Halton. ‘Jane, I’d like to congratulate you. You’ve won the scholarship!’ I don’t remember my exact words, but I know I felt assured of a positive future. Now I knew what I would be doing with the next four years of my life. After obtaining my Associates degree in nursing from Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming, I went to work at The Portland Clinic LLP and have had several promotions along the way. To this day I’m convinced the reason I was awarded the scholarship was because I was able to remain calm and confident with a nothing to lose attitude throughout the application process.

“The lesson I learned from this experience is to enter every promising opportunity, even if stressful, with confidence, knowing that if it doesn’t work out, there is another

better plan for me. The action I call you to take is to put energy and enthusiasm into stressful situations while keeping in mind that there are always other options. The benefit you will gain is your confidence and poise will so impress those who have influence over your future that you will win the day, you will appear more poised and confident, and you will often get the outcome you are hoping for.”

This is what we call “high engagement / low attachment.” I see too many people with high attachment and low engagement. They are hoping for wonderful outcomes. Their happiness seems to depend on these wonderful outcomes, and yet when you look at their level of engagement, it appears they’re putting forth very little effort.

Is there a part of your life where you are looking for great outcomes, hoping for great results, need to see improved results, and yet your level of engagement is low? Today is your day to kick it up, give it your very best shot, and trust that the outcome will exceed your expectations. This is your path to peace and prosperity.

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