Friday, February 26, 2010

Step 2 - Acceptance

Acknowledge what’s missing and why it’s important. No doubt you are accomplished in many areas. What you’ve been doing has worked to some degree, but what is not working? Unless the need to change is clear to you, no amount of coaching, nagging, or feedback will convince you to do something about it. It’s your life, your career, your choice. You decide what to view as inconsequential and what to view as limiting. And you live with the consequences. The question is – what if what is missing is really important? And, what would change for you if the issue were resolved? If you can project significant and immediate benefits, you’re likely to have the will to do something about it.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Step 1 - Awareness

At the end of last year I offered some tips for those looking to undertake some professional development in the new year. Whether it is a personal resolution or part of your formal development plan, certain principles apply to successful development. In a series of posts, I will highlight some of the key steps necessary to begin and sustain your developmental journey. I'll begin today with the first critical step - building awareness.

The essence here is to look both outside yourself and inside yourself. What does it take to wake up to the truth? Awareness can come from the outside in or the inside out. A clue on the outside provides a reality check and signals to you that something is amiss. Ideally, you get feedback from others - your boss, peers, significant other, friends, even enemies. Perhaps, you have the results from a 360 degree assessment. In other cases, you take the cue from personal reflection and introspection. What does your gut tell you? What patterns of thought get in the way and keep you from being effective? A blend of outside input, inside reflection, and a chance to test your discoveries will create a perpetual feedback loop of ever increasing awareness.