Freedom and Choice

Neo in ‘The Matrix’ presents us with a magnificent concept of empowerment – that of the power to have choice. To have choice in life, to have choice in how we live our life, to have choice in what we believe and choice in how we respond in the moment. Every response can be an empowering move towards what we want. However, every reaction is a random action that has a random result.

While most of us won’t have a day quite as drammatic as Neo's day shown here, we have a choice at every moment throughout the day when we are asked to respond to situations and people. Do we respond or do we react? Do we have choice in how we respond or do we react based on our past experience and limited thinking? How often do we have a choice to move towards our outcomes and to uphold the beliefs those outcomes are based on?

Neo's ability to have choice separates him from the machines of the matrix and the programmes people are living out within the matrix. This choice is underlined by his belief system based on his values. Communication is how we verbalise our values for the ultimate purpose of their actualisation. This can be for good or bad.

On an ordinary day to day basis we all know that it’s incredibly difficult not to react when the limibic brain has been triggered: our primitive part of the brain responds before we’re even aware of what’s happening - the words are said, the facial expression made, the vocal tone unmistakable. Rather than having 'grace under fire', our body, mind and language react in the moment and we choose a less than ideal response. Sometimes there’s a much subtler behavioural requirement needed to own our power and credibility when being challenged.

The point of executive communication coaching is to have a wide range of authentic choices in the moment that expresses who you are and what you want. At the same time your words are driven by your own unique set of beliefs and values that make the world better. This, surely, is a vital aspect of leadership; to be driven by something higher than yourself.

You own your space, stand your ground and command respect without fear of being disliked because you know your truth and your expertise. It isn’t even coming from a place of ego. 'Because I choose to’ is ideally without ego. Neo doesn’t have a choice. He is following his truth. Are you following yours? Do you have choice in the moment?