We grow from the experiences that stretch us. Actually, we grow when we learn from the experiences that stretch us. Seems so obvious, yet so few take the time to reflect on our experiences.
When you are stunningly disciplined about your learning you create
daily 1% wins. (The small incremental improvements that lead to
staggering results over time.) Being disciplined about your learning
means that you schedule the time to think about your craft. It could
be a post-project debrief that you run with your team. It could be
quick review of the past month at a staff meeting. Or, it could be
several pages in your journal. Leaders do this until they get to
extraordinary. And, then they keep doing it.
Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your experiences:
3 Questions
For every experience ask yourself the following questions:
1. What happened? (Describe the events and the people involved.)
2. So, what? (What does this experience mean? Describe why this is
important? Did this experience identify a strength or weakness? Did it
force you to reexamine your assumptions?)
3. Now, what? (What will you do differently next time? What is the
essence of this lesson?)
Avoid Blame
Sometimes it's easy to point fingers at others. Or become overly hard
on your own performance. Try to get beyond blaming and understand why people behaved the way they did. Was the goal clear and achievable? Did people have the tools they needed? Was communication clear? When you focus on blaming people you miss the opportunity to change the systems, rules and procedures that can make you better next time.
Think Long Term
Sometimes the results of our decisions take a long time to manifest.
Look back on decisions you made several years ago and try to trace the consequences. (For future decisions use a journal to record your goals and assumptions around important decisions.)
Share Your Lessons
Once you have learned from your experience, sharing it is the best way to keep it fresh. Blog about it. Tell your colleagues what you learned. Discuss it with a mentor. When you have conversations around your learning you deepen the learning.
Source : Robin Sharma Blog - The Monthly Coach
When you are stunningly disciplined about your learning you create
daily 1% wins. (The small incremental improvements that lead to
staggering results over time.) Being disciplined about your learning
means that you schedule the time to think about your craft. It could
be a post-project debrief that you run with your team. It could be
quick review of the past month at a staff meeting. Or, it could be
several pages in your journal. Leaders do this until they get to
extraordinary. And, then they keep doing it.
Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your experiences:
3 Questions
For every experience ask yourself the following questions:
1. What happened? (Describe the events and the people involved.)
2. So, what? (What does this experience mean? Describe why this is
important? Did this experience identify a strength or weakness? Did it
force you to reexamine your assumptions?)
3. Now, what? (What will you do differently next time? What is the
essence of this lesson?)
Avoid Blame
Sometimes it's easy to point fingers at others. Or become overly hard
on your own performance. Try to get beyond blaming and understand why people behaved the way they did. Was the goal clear and achievable? Did people have the tools they needed? Was communication clear? When you focus on blaming people you miss the opportunity to change the systems, rules and procedures that can make you better next time.
Think Long Term
Sometimes the results of our decisions take a long time to manifest.
Look back on decisions you made several years ago and try to trace the consequences. (For future decisions use a journal to record your goals and assumptions around important decisions.)
Share Your Lessons
Once you have learned from your experience, sharing it is the best way to keep it fresh. Blog about it. Tell your colleagues what you learned. Discuss it with a mentor. When you have conversations around your learning you deepen the learning.
Source : Robin Sharma Blog - The Monthly Coach
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