Earlier this summer, after 2.5 years of only being able to work virtually, we were finally able to head back out into the world of in-person professional learning. The experience of being back together again, in the same room, affected me in ways that I would never have anticipated.

The feeling arrived the moment I walked into the room, where my co-facilitator and I were going to be working in person – at long last – and continued to build exponentially as the participants arrived and settled in.

Reflecting back on the experience, I now see that what was showing up organically, by virtue of being together in the room, was something that hadn’t been as easily accessible for any of us, when working with people online. The sharing and chattering that comes with meeting for the first time and/or reconnecting, and then learning together for two days, had unleashed a wealth of wisdom and lived experiences that broadened the conversations and feeling of interconnection. The energy that this generated is what I’d felt, right out of the gate. And as a coach, I could barely sit still!

Why am I sharing this? Because this experience was/is such a visceral reminder for me of how much comes into ‘the room’ when I’m working with people – mentees, clients, course participants, etc. And how precious that energy is- for me as coach, for them as mentees, and for the shared learning. Each person brings a lifetime of learning, experience and wisdom that they have accrued along their journey. And my job as facilitator and mentor-coach, is to never forget that – or Guiding Principle #2 – even when it’s harder to access.

As we all prepare to gather again, it feels more important than ever to not take any part of that for granted. I’m inviting us all to remember to draw on that well of resourcefulness, creativity and expertise that we all bring, so we can step powerfully forward together.