New words are exciting because they can mean what you want them to mean. Kind of like a blank canvas, something just waiting to be created. Working with one of my clients was the genesis for the word gimbalage to emerge. This is always my favorite way to create something, spontaneously while collaborating with another in service of their success. Those ingredients led to a sudden a spark of creativity that I couldn’t have possibly done in isolation.
My company name, Gimbal Systems, has a lot of metaphorical meaning wrapped up in it. The result is that it is a lot to explain to people and for them to understand. Only a few put the pieces together and usually it is over time as we work together. The metaphor is subtle, sublime and some would argue probably too much, from a marketing perspective but it speaks to me and is connected to one of my greatest passions in life, being on the water.
The work with my client over time was to help develop their leadership skills. We were continually exploring how to be more successful at navigating the inevitable turmoil she faced. How could she be more effective in the midst of an onslaught of change, pressures and expectations? We worked on developing her emotional intelligence, communication and conflict skills, decision making, and team building. There was always more to explore and yet despite all the leadership development the waters never seemed to calm.
Our discussion one day led her to a place of recognition that there was no silver bullet that would solve everything. The reality was that life was always going to involve navigating rough seas. All the work in the world would not smooth out the ride and make it all alright. Especially given what she wants to accomplish and the places she is exerting herself.
If she wanted to be true to who she was and continually show up in the world as the leader she is, she was going to have to accept what came to her versus trying to stop, calm or avoid it. It was in that moment of recognition that the word gimbalage was born. It came out of the necessity of knowing that life and business were going to continually test her or anyone for that matter. If that was the case there better be something she could do to help her effectively absorb what was thrown at her.
Gimbalage is that skill. It is born out of acceptance of what is and what comes. We can try like crazy to control, influence and shape what happens, all of which requires a great deal of energy with limited ROI. So much like mindfulness with its concept of “just notice” and “being versus doing” gimbalage is similar in that it is a way of being that emphasizes greater awareness. Yet what it adds to mindfulness is a sense of the dynamic nature of life and the constant need to balance all that comes at you, literally and figuratively, with all the possible choices you have to react to it. It is in the consciousness and awareness of choice, and more importantly choices, that there is creativity and power to be effective regardless of what is thrown at us. In other words, the person with the most choices invariably wins rather than the unconscious leader that has fewer choices.
Gimbalage is a word that is a noun, adjective and intransitive verb. Much like Google has become synonymous for searching and has multiple meanings, gimbalage is the ability to be dynamic, to flex and adapt to use the forces that come at you like tai chi rather than fighting them. The result is a leader that can weather the storm in order to stay upright, balanced and directional toward what they want to achieve regardless of what comes at them.
When the world throws you into the perfect storm, a client doesn’t buy your product, a meeting with your team goes sideways, change is resisted or whatever else may be testing your patience, it is time for gimbalage. It is your choice to be overcome by what comes at you or to find your sea legs and embrace the challenge because gimbalage is a way of being and growing all at the same time through greater awareness. Similar to knowledge, gimbalage is acquired through experience and practice.
Next time you see someone successfully absorb and navigate a challenging situation you can tell them, “Nice Gimbalage.” Much like I do with my client now and her response is “Gimbalage, Baby, the key to my success” to which we both smile. A sense of humor is also a critical component to good gimbalage.
So there you have it folks, the launching of a new word to fill in the gap around gimbal, gimbaling and gimbaled. The canvas is covered now with a dynamic word with multiple meanings and usages that is intended to help with individual and collective effectiveness. Now it is time to share the vision and verbiage, which is what my work is all about. I look forward to what life gives me, so I can gimbalage (intransitive verb) my way through it and create unlimited degrees of freedom. I hope you will join me for the ride.