The Potentiality

John Horn's Website for Community Builders

Creativity

Four Holiday Gift Ideas from The Potentiality Team

Every year our team shares gift ideas for the holiday season that will enhance your personal potential and support your journey of building healthy communities at home, at work, at school, and in your neighbourhood. Kurt, Mike, Godfrey, and I embrace the values of minimalism, advancing human potential and creatively experiencing joy with others. We hope that our ideas help to make your holiday giving experience a little easier and, hopefully, a bit transformational, too. Here are four holiday gift ideas from The Potentiality Team.

John’s idea

Have coaching conversations

When we ask more questions and say less things the people with whom we’re engaging grow, progress and improve. An awesome coach helps us surface new insights about ourselves by deepening and broadening our perspective. An awesome coach empowers us to commit to what we say we will do. If your friend, spouse or family member is open to the idea (they need to be coachable, after all), support their development by giving the gift of coaching conversations. You can go all in with a personal or executive coach or simply build your craft with some self-led tools from gurus like Michael Bungay Stanier or Robin Sharma’s Mastery Sessions on YouTube.

Kurt’s idea

Give radical candor

There are a couple great leadership books I’ve read in recent months. Two that stand-out are Principles by Ray Dalio  and Radical Candor by Kim Scott. Both have great lessons and principles that pretty much anyone can use, especially those looking to develop as leaders.

Michael’s idea

Give a radical break

Routines are extremely valuable. I do believe humans are pattern-seeking and that we create routines and patterns, often without any mindful intent, as we go about our lives. Developed and managed well they’re incredibly valuable, but we can all use intentional breaks from our routines so we can work on our lives rather than work in them. Whether you’re high-rolling and giving or taking a break to surf in a tropical location or you’re calling in favours from friends and family to support something closer to home, the value of taking time away from your routines, especially if they involve any kind of digital media, is hard to overstate.

Godfrey’s idea

Gift culture

I’ll echo Mike’s idea above. More than ever in this day and age we’re in need of opportunities and moments to unplug, unwind and reset. For the holidays, I recommend giving the gift of music, books or art. Whether it’s taking in a local classical quartet, reading a book (rather than a screen), or visiting a local art show, sharing immersive cultural experiences over the holidays can expand our minds and rejuvenate the spirit.

John Horn is the Founder and Principal of Potentiality Consulting. Over the past 25 years, John has helped leaders reach their community-building potential, bringing a unique professional, intelligent and edutaining style to his seminars, presentations and essays. John applies his talents as a senior people and culture leader, coach (from youth athletes to executives), DIGITAL Canada Advisor, and as an advocate for career development, rare diseases (EPP), and building healthy communities. John lives in Victoria with his wife (who is her own person) and two kids - he loves exploring neighbourhoods via bicycle and making friends through basketball, boardgames, and conversations over coffee.