Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christal Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Christal, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?
Prior to becoming #TheVisionCoach I was a tenured professor and a professional dancer for over 20 years. As a creator and an educator I spent a great deal of time in study and rehearsal. Since the age of 9 I have been showing up to a dance studio to train and be refined by the knowledge of others. The humility it takes to show up to correction is something that has served me in establishing my practice as a coach. It takes vulnerability and trust to accept correction from someone, especially when the feedback is about your body.
For over 20 years I willingly put my body at the disposal of other people’s imaginations and while it may sound self sacrificial; it expanded my capacity for life beyond anything I could ever learn in a traditional classroom. When I became a professor I learned that professors don’t actually have to have teaching experience, they just have to be experts in their field of study. For me this was a disappointing truth. I began teaching dance at the age of 14 and take the craft of education seriously. The first thing I practiced as a professor was making sure that my pedagogy and purpose were aligned. I wanted to ensure that students who entered and exited my class obtained the stamina to learn, the courage to keep showing up, the balance to take on all life has for them, and the humility to ask questions.
The question piece is where the real transformation happens. In my time as a professional performer I had the great fortune of working for Liz Lerman who taught me one of her mantras, “Turn your discomfort into inquiry.” Creating a question from discomfort rather than falling into resistance has proven to stretch my creativity, expand my ability to communicate, deepen my connections with various types of people, and transform my intuition into purpose.
In every aspect of my work from the stage, to the classroom, to the boardroom, I have learned to stand in discomfort with grace and ask questions that transform the quality of my life.
Christal, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As a coach I leverage my creativity as an artist, my communication as an educator, and my strategies as an entrepreneur into programs and courses that transform dreams into realities. As an artist I practiced leveraging my imagination to create embodied forms of my ideas for audiences all over the world. Using the methodologies of creativity and transformation allowed me to create the VisionBuilder Curriculum.
Two fundamental truths that are core to my practice are that we are all meant to evolve and that we can be grateful and still want more.
I believe vision is the pathway to possibility and by learning to leverage imagination, intuition, and strategy my clients become courageous enough to be their authentic selves. I’ve helped clients from various backgrounds discover, design and pursue lives they love living.
My unique candor and ability to stand in discomfort with vulnerability and strength allows me to usher in transformation in the lives of others with grace and compassion.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
I definitely believe my background in education has set me apart from other coaches. By being a trained educator I am able to break down large amounts of information into palatable pieces and therefore increase the success of my clients. Many coaches can tell but not everyone can teach.
In addition to my process, I also believe my addiction to growth helps me to continuously serve as a model for transformation to my clients. I believe in the work. I practice the work. I embody the work.
Any advice for managing a team?
The biggest advice I would give any fellow visionary in managing a team is to be specific about their vision. The most important thing you want your team members to know is where they fit and why they are valued. By sharing the vision in great detail and with consistency, team members are able to see themselves in the vision, take ownership, and exceed expectations.
By sharing the vision, leaders and managers transform their team members into collaborators; and that’s where infinite intelligence has the power to expand the possibilities of the vision,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stepwithchristal.com/free-gift
- Instagram: @CoachChristal
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifestepsandstages
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thevisioncoach-christal-brown/
- Twitter: @browngirldance
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyWWVtshitQGlXnZjWKcKsA