Living below the line and How it Applies to Self-Awareness

If something is “below the line”, what comes to mind for you? I think of: 

• Hidden (submerged, below the radar, not measured); or
• Inferior (not up to expected standard)

 Here is a simple model I’ve found useful to test my attitudes or behaviour:

 ­­OAR

BED

 While the lazy me loves the idea of BED more than the energetic connotations of OAR, let’s see why OAR is above the line and BED is below the line…

What does this mean in practice?

Consider a common scenario. Bertrand is given responsibility to lead a team. The team members are discouraged, argumentative, sullen and unproductive.

Bertrand is in BED mode. A victim. He resorts to Blame, Excuses and/or Denial.

Blame – the previous team leader was hopeless. That’s why he resigned, because he made no progress, and actually caused many of the unresolved tensions.

Excuses – these team members are not the right cultural fit for our company. Nor do they have the necessary technical or people skills.

Denial – No, it’s not my problem. I have the credentials to be a manager. It’s just this mob – they are unmanageable.

Bernard is stuck. All he sees are the limitations. And because he thinks that there is nothing to learn, he’s not willing to ask for help or advice.

How could Bertrand make progress? He could learn from the example of Ophelia. She is in the same situation – assigned to a disgruntled, unproductive team.

Ophelia is trying to be in OAR mode. Ownership. Accountability. Responsibility. This is her conscious choice.

Ownership – I accept that this is my team. My observations tell me that there are some problems in the team. I’m willing to tackle those.

Accountability – I’m in this, with the team. We will sink or swim together. Whatever happens, I’m sure that we will learn a lot through this challenge.

Responsibility – I have a plan, but I’m willing to listen first to the team’s concerns and to advice from my mentors. Ultimately, it is up to me. But I have confidence that this team can fly.

 What does this mean for me, and how does this help my self-awareness?

I use OAR/BED as a self-check. Is what I am saying blaming someone or something else, making excuses or denying the allegations? Is that the sort of person that I want to be? (No!)

 In order to grow, lead and be the best version of me, I value Authenticity.

OAR/BED is a tool to raise this awareness. It is a prompt. Like a conscience prick. Am I below the line, or above? If below, am I willing to choose to step above the line, to own this, be accountable and responsible?

This self-awareness is a fundamental and essential step in my growth. It leads to success in relationships, in projects, and in my own well-being.

So? This article bring awareness to you and here is your chance to learn how to take ownership of your own attitudes and behaviours and keep those that serve your interest and purpose.

If you found this article informative and helpful, we invite you to follow us on our social media pages for more educational content and updates on our latest offerings. And if you're interested in personal and professional growth, be sure to check out the Core Purpose website for information on our courses and training programs. Thank you for reading!