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A New Kind of Hero for a New Kind of World, Hero #4

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(This post is part of a pact I made. Click here for the full story.)

Meet Nigel, a high achiever no matter where he finds himself.

In his own words: “You see, I was brought up to believe that to be successful – and you had to be successful – you needed a good education, work hard and go for the money.  So, I got a solid education and worked hard for the money…”

In spite of his upbringing, Nigel has not been afraid to create his own definition of success. On several occasions, whenever he has felt that his values have been compromised, he has made changes.  That’s how Nigel has paved a way to his career Nirvana. 

Note to self:  Success is in the eye of the beholder.  Only you know what success means. Give yourself a chance to create your own definition.

Like many, Nigel began his career in the corporate world.  At that point, he went for money and flashy titles (and lots of toys).  During his first job out of college, he excelled as an investment banker in Mexico.  Later he jumped to a more tantalizing opportunity with a US multinational in the FMCG sector.  After almost two years he wanted to improve his business acumen and completed an MBA at Thunderbird.  Out of grad school he landed a dream job with another US multinational and worked his way up the ladder to Marketing Manager.  Achievement, timing and luck were on his side as he was transferred to Sydney, Australia as the Marketing Manager of a brand portfolio worth over a quarter of a billion dollars.  While at the top of his game in the corporate world, working 60 plus hour weeks, he decided it was time to re-evaluate his priorities and to re-define success. 

As he described it to me in an email: “The change catalysts for me were my health, values and reshuffled priorities.  Long work weeks (60hrs +) and short sighted senior executives…ate away at my health and pushed me to compromise key values – like respect and wellbeing.  I could no longer live unhealthily and according to the shallow values of others.”

He resigned his corporate job looking for a more balanced existence. That’s Nigel’s career Nirvana.

His next move is a paradox.  In search for what he calls ‘just being’, when most would’ve been content with lying on the beach and reading all day, he and his wife accepted a position as house parents at the Australian Institute of Sports (AIS).  The times when I visited them, they looked that they were far from ‘just being’.  Although it looked like he had shed the coat of stress that corporate life tends to brand people with, he remained very active.  A major part of the job description of an AIS house parent is to look after the emotional well-being of young athletes who are living away from home pursuing a dream to make it to the Olympics or to become professionals. At times that meant catering for the needs of 70 teenagers. Albeit, by most standards these teenagers were easy to manage since their training demands kept them out of trouble (drugs and alcohol), there’s no real way around the demands of a teen-ager, let alone 70 at a time.  Like the need to be driven to sports meets and matches, to have their injuries kept in check, to be entertained and in general a need to be recognized and acknowledged.   Still Nigel describes it as something that he did well – and could’ve done with his eyes closed.  I believe him.  The times that I saw him in action I noticed that all the kids loved and respected him. And Nigel seemed to be loving every minute of it.

After three years of ‘just- being’, Nigel and his wife agreed it was time for a change.  Based on his self-knowledge, he decided to move into entrepreneurship.  Once he explored several options, he decided that buying a franchise was the logical way for him to transition into business ownership.  Following a breach of contract from the franchiser Nigel decided to sell the business. 

Today Nigel lives a balanced existence – using his skills in communications, marketing and business at one of the world’s most renowned scientific research and development agencies, CSIRO – and exists in harmony and balance with his pillar values.

Note to self: What matters most is how you do things – not what things you do.

By most standards, Nigel is an analytical person. After all he was trained by some of the world’s top marketing machines; the FMCG sector and an MBA.  However, he recognizes that analysis and planning are not what played the biggest roles in his search.  He says: “There isn’t a magic formula or one way.   I believe that every experience teaches you something about yourself and what you like, dislike and are willing to accept.  The beauty of this life of ours is that we have a choice.  Choice isn’t the scary part.  What keeps us awake at night…is the consequence of that choice.  Ground yourself with a simple question: what is the worst that can happen and where does this stack up against my priorities and values?  If you see Mr. Death and his sickle on the horizon, maybe you should rethink your plan.”

Note to self:  Avoid paralysis by over analysis.  If you can handle the foreseeable worse case scenario, go for it.

Nigel also feels that what has worked for him is: ”Recognizing….no, understanding that I have a choice and realizing that I could live happily with the consequences of my decisions…”

Note to self: Decisions have consequences.  Today you are the product of past decisions you’ve made.  Start with the end in mind.  Decide what you want to become – and determine what decisions will get you there.

Looking back he feels that: “Listening at times to that inner voice might have saved me from some big mistakes.”

Note to self: Learn to listen to your inner voice. Trust it.

Nigel leaves us with one final message: “Try not to become too idealistic and remember whatever path you choose will take work and effort.”

Desperate is not a good look

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I’ve felt my heart sink quite a few times in the past few weeks. More and more, I’m reading about people who admit to either feeling forced to go back to work; or feeling that they have to take any job offer that comes their way; or feeling that they must stay at a job even if they’re miserable.  The main reason these people are giving for doing so is – as you probably guessed it by now – the state of the economy.

Even if these stories of doom and gloom are being written by sensationalist (and irresponsible) journalists, there is an undeniable truth behind them.  The stories show that there’s an unhealthy emphasis on decision-making based on have to (no choice), should (guilt-driven) and must (both guilt and no choice). 

I get it that people have bills to pay (I do too) and that jobs are scarce in some of the largest sectors of the economy. Yet, I cannot help but wonder how it’s possible for some people to feel like lambs being taken to the slaughter, while others are feeling empowered and seeing the change of pace as an opportunity to explore new horizons, to experience new things and to re-invent themselves. 

By no means am I saying that the former are lying or not trying hard enough.

What I am questioning is their perspective and attitude towards the current environment. 

I can already hear some thinking: ”get off your high horse…beggars can’t be choosers.”  See, here’s the deal.  You’re only a beggar if you feel like one. And if you feel like a beggar, guess what? Others will treat you like one.  Not only is that attitude not conducive to a fun life, it’s not a sustainable way to approach your career.  Yes, I am saying that job satisfaction and happiness matter even during an economic downturn.  Both are what will lead to sustainable career decisions.

Here are two tips that will wipe off the desperate look from your face (which by the way is not a good look to take to a job interview):

1. Develop a clear vision.  In a changed world it’s crucial to have a clear idea of where you want to be in the next 3 to 5 years.  Your personal vision is what will keep you in control during those times when your employer, seeking to cut costs, asks you to take on responsibilities that go beyond your current job description.  It is also what will keep you motivated when you don’t get a job offer.  And it’s what will drive you to feel that going back to the work place is an opportunity, not a curse.

When you know where you want to be in a few years time, it’s easier to step back, and say: “This may not be what I expected from life, but I can see how this new experience is a great opportunity to learn something that will come in handy in a few years time.”  I’m not saying that every experience needs to be positive.  Dealing with situations that are not of your absolute delight also benefits you.  It helps you build character.

2. Stop catastrophizing.  Taking on new responsibilities at work, living off your savings for longer than you expected, doing without a few luxuries, and going back to work are not the end of the world.  It could be the beginning of a brand new and exciting chapter in your life.  Besides, if you’re sitting there feeling sorry for yourself, as you clean up your resume or build your network on Linked In, think about all the families who have relatives in Iraq.  That should help you snap out of it!

So what is driving your career: panic, guilt & fear or a clear vision and excitement? I’d LOVE to know.

Like the picture?  Thanks flickr

Rejoice! Strategic Job Hoppers

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For those of you who haven’t heard, last week was important for job hoppers around the world. UpMo, an online service with the tag line: GPS Your Career, turned 1!

Taken from their website:

“Your greatest risk during tough times is not unemployment; it’s the risk of losing career control and direction.”

As a self-proclaimed strategic job hopper, I’m an advocate of tools that empower people to manage their careers strategically.  For several reasons, UpMo achieves that.

It offers:

  1. Customized feedback that’s supported by actionable advice.  The “Network Readiness Evaluator” takes about ten minutes to complete.  As its name implies, it rates your networking readiness.  More important, it also offers personalized advice on the areas that you can improve upon. (Hint: answer honestly – as if no one’s watching)
  2. Benchmarking information.  The team at UpMo was not afraid to set the bar high.  They reverse engineered the careers of professionals earning upwards of $200,000.  That means that their advice is based on the habits of high achievers, offering you a unique opportunity to size up your career against theirs.
  3. A powerful tool to plan your career with the end in mind.  UpMo has a tool which lets you play forward your career decisions. For example, it will help you find out how an MBA will impact your longer-term goals. And what about taking time off?  All based on the paths of high achievers.
  4. Visually appealing tools.  For visual learners, UpMo will feel like candy for your brain.  For those who have trouble visualizing, the colorful graphs are likely to kick start your mental juices.
  5. Tools and templates for you to apply their feedback.  Almost from the get go you can start working on the areas of your career that need improvement.  UpMo offers several straightforward tools like “My Action Plan” which helps you track your immediate, weekly, monthly and longer term progress.

Indeed, UpMo set out on an ambitious mission.  For now it’s delivering on its promises by offering users a one-stop-shop career planner.

Careerists of the world, what are you waiting for to move up?

Worthy of cloning*…

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The world needs more people like Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Acumen Fund.

Here’s why.

“Part of the journey that those of us who are privileged, which is pretty much everyone in this country, has to make is not being embarrassed by privilege or guilty for privilege or confused by privilege, but to start from that place of recognizing that your responsibility is to use that privilege in the best way you can to serve the world. And there are lots of ways of serving the world.” Taken from her interview at McKinsey Quarterly.

Do you know someone who’s worthy of cloning? I’d love to know.

*Inspired by the buzz created to celebrate the Ada Lovelace Day

Letting reasons rule…

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Reasons are all those things that support your long-term goals. Excuses are all those things that don’t.  Learn to tell the difference.

(That’s what I’ve been saying to myself for the past three days every time I’ve craved a coffee – or anything caffeine-related.  The question is: for how long will I be able to keep going?!)

 

Like the picture? Thanks flickr

A New Kind of Hero for a New Kind of World, Hero #2

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(This post is part of a pact I made. Click here for the full story.)

It’s time for you to meet Jo.  Jo’s lead is quite interesting to follow.  Had you met Jo a few years ago, most probably it would have been at a hospital and she would’ve introduced herself to you as ‘Dr. Martin’.  Had you been one of her patients you would most probably have cancer (but G-d forbid).  That’s because Jo was an Oncology intern.  If you meet Jo now, like I did a few months ago, she’ll greet you with a warm red-lipstick smile that goes from cheek to cheek, and she’d ask you – in her young yet husky voice – to please call her ‘Jo’ or ‘Joey’.  She won’t ask you to undress, instead through a microphone, she’ll ask you to take a seat anywhere you like in the auditorium.  Soon after she’ll launch into a most energetic presentation, packed with practical tips and advice about what it takes to succeed as a professional public speaker.  That’s because now Jo is an inspirational speaker and mentor.  She delivers her insight across the world through public speaking engagements.  And Jo knows success well.  In fact, she made over $1.25 million in sales her first 12 months as a professional speaker.

To the untrained eye, Jo’s career metamorphosis comes across as total madness.  After all, what does Oncology have to do with inspiration and professional public speaking? After being on different career paths, Jo found the common thread that led her to find career Nirvana.

Note to self:  Be honest with yourself.  Only you know what feels right.

By most standards, Jo has it all.  She did well in school, she’s a doctor and a successful entrepreneur.  To top it off, she’s sexy and has a loving relationship with her life partner.  Yet as much as it seems that Jo has it all under control, she oscillated between career paths before finding her career Nirvana. 

Note to self:  Not having answers is not a sign of failure. More often than not it’s searching for answers that brings about success.

At the age of 8, before she even knew what a Paediatrician was, Jo decided to be a doctor – and announced it to her parents (which made them super proud, especially since both are Pharmacists).  Until she reached the sixth grade it was possible to say that Jo was one of those lucky ‘born-to-be-a-doctor’ types.  All that changed after she enrolled in the school’s drama program and discovered a passion for performing.  From that point onwards, her decision to become a doctor began to feel ‘not quite right’ because when she was not acting, she was longing it.

After finishing high school, she took a year off to travel the world with friends.  Perhaps she was hoping (and praying) that she could leave behind her longing to perform and continue life peacefully following her childhood decision to become a doctor. Yet her indecision was so evident, that it was at the very last minute, while speaking with her mom from a phone booth in Greece, that she decided to apply to med school.  As she confessed at our interview, that was only because she missed the admission’s audition to drama school.

Jo found med school challenging and she enjoyed it.  Except she never was sure what type of doctor she’d become. Finally Oncology found her – after two out of her five rotations during her Intern year were in Oncology.  Even if she did not think much about her indecision at the time, it seems as if her thought process was being interrupted by her longing to be on stage. 

After grueling months working in the Oncology ward, she finally cracked open.  And at the end of her first year, she decided to enroll in drama school.  Her decision came about almost as harshly as new teeth break through a baby’s gums. The catalyst was the passing of a patient she came to know well.  That same night back at the hotel room, she realized that the patient could’ve been her.  As she sat there debriefing after a long and emotional day, she asked herself: ”If I had 6 months to live (like my patient did) would I be doing today what I’m doing?”  Her answer was a resounding no.  That intense moment stripped her of all inhibitions and pretensions.  And once her gates of honesty opened up, answers started to flow downstream from her core.  In Jo’s words she said to herself: “Instead I would go to drama school and I would learn how to act, and I would try my hand as a professional actor.”

That was Jo’s first ‘if not now, then when?’ moment.

When telling me this, Jo made it a point to let me know that her decision to switch paths was not based on a dislike of medicine – or on feeling completely and utterly exhausted after working 12 to 14 hour days. It was because the practice of medicine was not giving her the benefits that she wanted, emotionally.

Note to self: Feelings don’t lie. They don’t know how.  When things feel right, it’s because they are. When they don’t, it’s because something needs to change. Learn to listen to your instincts and to trust them.

When I asked Jo if she has a way to tap into her feelings, she shared with me a method, which seems simple by most standards.  Jo uses a balance sheet model made up of assets and liabilities.  When it becomes clear that the liabilities are outweighing the emotional assets of an opportunity, she knows that it’s time to change. And change she does, and quickly. 

Six months after starting the drama program at one of Australia’s most competitive academies, she began to feel something she did not expect.  Especially not after she had given up a career as a doctor to pursue her dream to be an actor.  Although drama school helped Jo fill an emotional void and scratch a major itch, it did not do a complete job. She realized that performing was missing a key ingredient (drum roll please)…making a real difference in people’s lives.  Although this realization took Jo by surprise, she told me that she did not panic.  Instead, she focused on finding a solution. 

Note to self: It is how you respond to set backs that determines how quickly you recover from them. 

As tempted as she may have been to go back to practicing medicine, she knew that was not a sustainable option. That wouldn’t satiate her emotionally.  Around that same time she started to train in executive coaching.  There is where Jo found a path that allowed her to make a difference in people’s lives and to feed her emotional craving to perform.

Note to self: Cultivate an abundance mentality.  Be open to having ‘this and that’.  Don’t limit your decisions to either/or choices.  Dare to ask yourself: “If I could have it all, what would that be?”

Soon Jo realized that she has a talent for improving people’s morale and empowering them to take responsibility for their lives.  Her business as an executive coach, working with some of Australia’s largest corporations, grew at such a quick pace that she began to feel that drama school was holding her back.  That was when she decided to quit drama school to work full time on her growing coaching business.   Her work caught the attention of one of the world’s top results coaches, Chris Howard. He invited her to join his organization as Head of Research and Training.  Even though that move involved a considerable down grade in income, she decided to accept because she knew that the opportunity would pay back in know-how.  

Note to self: Learning is also a form of earning.  It’s an investment in your career path.

1. Be open to learning.

2. Read inspiring material.

3. Repeat.

She spent the next two years developing business with Chris Howard’s company.  Jo was so good at what she did that eventually she became the face of Chris Howard on platforms across the globe: UK, USA and Australia, replacing him on stage. 

Note to self: When you’re passionate about what you do, success is likely to follow – and quickly.

Two years later, after spending months at a time working away from her family and her boyfriend (now life partner), she decided it was time to come closer to home.  She made up her mind on her 30th birthday while she was celebrating it in London with work friends – instead of at home with her family. 

That was Jo’s second ‘if not now, then when’ moment.  Within a few weeks she quit her job. 

Note to self: Take action.  When it feels that it’s time to go, your feelings are probably telling the truth. Refer to lesson #3.

For the next nine months Jo went through what she calls a pajama phase. She did nothing. (Or as little as an over achiever like Jo can handle)  Then, after several professionals in the public speaking circuit approached her for advice, she realized she had a lot to offer. That’s how her current company was born.  She now spends most of her time helping entrepreneurs express their passion and find businesses that support their lifestyle.

Note to self: Nothing is the end of the world.  Not even quitting your job or selling your business or even getting fired without having another opportunity lined up.

Jo admitted to me that she never has had a plan or has taken time to weigh up options.  She simply relies on her instincts and a deep knowledge that she will be all right – no matter what.  And that’s how it has worked out for her until now.

It almost seems that Jo’s instincts where being guided by a two-circle venn diagram model.  Something inside of her knew that at the intersection of medicine and performing emerges success coaching and professional public speaking. Because she was willing to listen, her instincts guided her to her career Nirvana.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this fell from the sky, like a pie, on Jo. Although she has this inner sense that whatever happens she’ll land back on her feet, Jo is an extremely hard worker.  She admits to have worked herself to exhaustion on several occasions.   She says that this tends to happen when she’s enjoying so much what she’s working on, that she stays on a roll for very long periods of time. That leads me to Jo’s greatest strength – her self-awareness and brutal self-honesty.  Both make her very down to earth and approachable.

You’re a baby step away from your career Nirvana…no bullshitake.

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In the 6th century BC, Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and central figure of Taoism, said:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

To Lao’s words I’d like to add:

”That journey is completed a (baby) step at a time.”

(shame Lao didn’t get to see Bill Murray starring in “What About Bob?”)

History lesson aside, how on earth do you make that work for your career? 

Kaizen.

(what da!)

Kaizen is the Japanese word for ‘improvement’.  Kai stands for ‘change’ and Zen for ‘good’.  It’s the name given to the philosophy that focuses on gradual, continuous, and incremental improvements – in every aspect of life.

It’s the implementation of that philosophy that turned the Japanese manufacturing industry into a world superpower after it was blown to pieces during World War II.

Take it from the lion’s mouth – Toyota’s President:

‘Why do you think Toyota has been successful so far?’ ‘We’re doing the same thing we always did: we’re consistent. There’s no genius in our company. We just do whatever we believe is right, trying every day to improve every little bit and piece.  But when 70 years of very small improvements accumulate, they become a revolution’ – Katsuaki Watanabe.

Now I’m determined to make Kaizen part of your modus operandi. 

If you look at the upper-right hand corner of my blog (below my picture), you’ll see a box labeled: Power Boost.  Inside that box, you will find easy-to-action tips that will be updated regularly.  The sum of the tips will lead you to career Nirvana one step at a time – a la Kaizen style. 

No bullshitake.

Power Boosts were designed as a series with the main objective to empower you to claim control of your career and keep you in the seat of power. That means that they follow a logical order which has a beginning, but not an end.  It also means that you can start taking Power Boosts at any time. (What about now!) If you happen to miss one or even a few, don’t sweat it.  I have them saved in an archive – and I’ll happily send them to you. (Simply send me an email or leave a comment.)

To be taken in small – concentrated doses.

It will take you a few minutes each day to action a Power Boost. 

Here’s why?

1. Reading the Power Boost – 10 seconds flat

2. Taking action NOW (Like a shot of fresh wheatgrass, it has a short shelf life) – 1 to 5 minutes, on the clock.

3. Repeating – do the math.

Start small, start NOW!

 

 

A New Kind of Hero for a New Kind of World, Hero #1

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(This post is part of a pact I made. Click here for the full story.)

Meet Victor.  For twenty years Victor was an entrepreneur.  Now, after he switched career lanes, he works with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD as part of the team of computer engineers that is responsible for developing software for flight and non-flight projects. 

Victor did not find his career Nirvana in a blink. For more than 20 years, Victor was a suit-and-tie-wearing business owner. However, underneath it all lay dormant a passionate engineer.  And it may have taken twenty years for that engineer to come out and play, but when it finally did, it made a splash.  It was the awakened engineer that drove Victor to sell his business, move states and go back to school.  It was that same passion that drove him to complete a Masters in Computer Science (MS) at Georgia Tech after being away from academia for twenty-five years.

Note to self: Passion is power.  Tap into yours.

This is what Victor says about passion: “Try to find a way to say every day, ‘Cool, I get to go to work today!’ Pursue what you enjoy.  If you do so with passion, and you do it well enough, you’ll find a way to make a living.  I always wish I had pursued what I liked to do, engineering, from the start … I would be at the top of my game right now!  I love my job.  I’m willing to work very hard at it because it is truly rewarding.  I feel a part of something important.”

By most standards (even high ones) Victor is a smart guy.  Aside from his MS, he also holds a BS from MIT in Computer Science.  Yet for two decades he remained in a path that did not fulfil him.  As he wrote to me: “I didn’t like my job/company for many years.  I never wanted to be a businessman, but somehow found myself stuck with the position, and with the company.”

What was holding him back?

In his own words: “Fear of failure, too much debt, didn’t know what to do with myself.”

Note to self: It’s never too late to change – no matter what your circumstances are.  Never, never, never give up on your passion. Instead keep looking for ways to make the change happen.

Now that he’s transcended to the other side, Victor says:

“Seek advice from someone older, smarter, wiser. Many, like me, create our own barriers.  Get professional help if you feel stuck.  Always stay positive, never give up! (And) Work really, really hard.”

How did he manage to let go of twenty years of professional baggage and debts?

He met a life-partner who was understanding and supportive.  What he wrote to me gave me goose bumps: “I got married.  (My wife) has been incredibly supportive.  I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to make such changes without her by my side.”

Note to self: You’re not alone.  Reach out for the support, guidance and help that you need to make change happen.

He also sold his business, which helped him get out without incurring the large expenses involved in closing a business.  Part of the deal was that he would stay on contract as one of the VPs.  This bought him time to decide his next move.

Note to self:  Keep asking ‘how can I make the change?’ and continue to explore options until you find one that works.

What has Victor learned from his process – that you and I could too?

“If you don’t like what you’re doing, be willing to explore something else.  If you’re in school and don’t like your major, change it, or try courses in other disciplines.  Going back to school was both the hardest, and one of the most rewarding, things I’ve done in my life.  Georgia Tech was a chance to do it better (the second time around).  And I did!  And loved every minute of it!!!”

 

Photo? Courtesy of NASA

Short & sweet

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Picture shot at Tropfest 2009, the world’s largest short film festival.

Last night over 150,000 people gathered at outdoor venues across Australia to watch 16 short films.  

And what do all those thousands of people have in common?  

A love for all things short – as in brief. 

Note to self: One of the most effective ways to get your point across at work is to keep it short. 

Do your ideas pass the elevator pitch test?  In other words, can you sum up your main ideas in 30 seconds or less – the average time of an elevator ride?

When looking to get buy-in for your ideas, keep in mind that the greatness of ideas is based on others understanding them.

 

Want to see more photos? flickr

FREE career advice from Bill Gates

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(Post inspired by Bill Gate’s talk at TED 09.)

In his talk at TED this past week-end, one of the questions that Bill Gates explored was: 

How do you make a teacher great?

It is worth paying attention because our careers stand to benefit from his answer.

Monkey see, monkey improve.

As Bill explained, it’s not that easy to answer his question since there’s very little data to show what makes a teacher great. This is a critical issue for anyone aiming for greatness. Quite simply if we don’t know what greatness looks like, how do we know when we’ve found it? And, how can we learn and emulate it?.  The opposite of ‘monkey see, monkey do’ comes into play.

This is no secret to the world of sports. Tennis is a great example. Tennis aficionados out there (like me) know that by observing Rafael Nadal or any of the players on the professional circuit, we stand to improve our game.  More so, as part of their training, most elite athletes watch recordings of top performers.  Athletes know that when monkey sees, monkey improves. 

You and I can apply this to our careers by focusing on imitation-worthy people.  Bill Gates may be a good start. But you need not go that far. Look around you.  Do any of your colleagues, bosses or clients have traits that are worthy of imitation? The key is to be open to watching and learning.

See no evil + hear no evil = missed opportunity.

He then moves on to highlight the importance of receiving feedback. According to Bill’s research (I trust he has done his homework) teachers in the US public system are receiving very little feedback about their performance. There tends to be a clause in teachers’ contracts that limits the amount of time the school’s principal can spend observing a teacher in real time.  Even when a principal is allowed to observe, the teacher must be notified ahead of time. Naturally that means that the teacher gets a chance to modify their teaching techniques and be on their best behavior while in the presence of the principal.  While this might accomplish a better review, (by faking it) the teacher misses an opportunity to learn what they’re doing well, and what could be improved or eliminated.

Most of us at work do not have the luxury of being observed. Even so we still stand to benefit from Bill’s ideas.  By being open to feedback and asking for it from our managers, colleagues and even clients.  Rather than seeing feedback from others as a personal attack or a threat, we could decide to welcome it as an opportunity to up our game.  The key then is to be open to feedback, to ask for it, to implement it and to track our progress.

Thanks Bill.

 

Photo by James Duncan Davidson/TED