Tips for Gaining Wisdom from Experiences

Practicing intellectual curiosity is critical to a leader’s journey of continuous learning and growth. We must ask questions, listen actively, seek out different perspectives, and challenge our assumptions. Many leaders read voraciously, reflect regularly, and engage with coaches and mentors to ensure we are exposed to new ideas, insights, and feedback. One practice that has helped me learn and evolve over the years is tracking and analyzing the outcomes of my decisions. This is not about dwelling on mistakes but about accountability, continuous improvement, and leading with intention. I started this as a mid-level manager, thanks to a great boss who taught me how to balance data and instincts—a critical skill to have when you need to make a decision urgently in the absence of a complete set of facts. He coached me to start recording my gut instincts whenever I had to make a decision. I would do a quick gut check and put that insight aside. I would then approach the decision analytically, weighing all the available data to make a determination. Over time, we’d compare the two approaches, tracking the success rate through the years. This practice has stayed with me—in fact, I’m still tracking business decisions I made in Southeast Europe, Germany, and Southeast Asia over the years! As importantly, I track the successful careers of employees I hired, coached, and promoted. This is not only a useful learning exercise of what worked and what didn’t, but also a wonderful way to celebrate the success of others. What are some practices that help you continuously learn and grow? #Leadership #Development #Curiosity #ContinuousLearning #DecisionMaking

Leadership Insights: Learning to Stop for Growth Just getting into my new read of the year, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by Marshall Goldsmith. I was quickly inspired by Peter Drucker's wisdom, "We spend a lot of time teaching leaders what to do. We don't spend enough time teaching leaders what to stop. Half the leaders I have met don't need to learn what to do. They need to learn what to stop." This resonates deeply with the essence of leadership evolution; my evolution. Growth isn't just about acquiring new skills; it's equally about shedding old habits. Goldsmith brilliantly highlights the importance of self-awareness and the courage to identify behaviors that might hinder our journey to becoming better leaders and people. Habits Leaders Need to Stop (A few favorites): 1. Not Taking Time to Reflect: Regular self-reflection is essential for leadership growth. 2. Ignoring Personal Well-being: Prioritize self-care; a healthy leader is a resilient leader. 3. Not Listening: Actively listen without interruptions; understanding precedes effective leadership. 4. Being Defensive: Accept feedback gracefully; defensiveness inhibits personal growth. 5. Failing to Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge achievements; celebrate successes with the team. 6. Clinging to the Past: Embrace change; don't let past successes limit future opportunities. 7. Not Having a Clear Vision: Define a clear vision for yourself and your team; clarity inspires. 8. Avoiding Difficult Conversations: Tackle challenges head-on; constructive conversations are catalysts for improvement. 9. Neglecting Professional Development: Stay curious; continuously invest in your leadership skills. 10. Lacking Gratitude: Express gratitude; appreciation fuels motivation and commitment. Leadership Growth Tips: • Self-Reflection: Regularly assess your leadership style and its impact. • Seek Feedback: Actively solicit input from peers, subordinates, and mentors. • Continuous Learning: Stay curious; invest time in expanding your leadership toolkit. • Actionable Goals: Develop a plan to replace old habits with positive ones. Remember, leadership is a journey, not a destination. Let's commit to not only learning new skills but also unlearning habits that might be holding us back. What behaviors do you believe leaders, or you for that matter, should "stop" for continuous growth? Share your thoughts! #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipInsights #BookRecommendation

Embracing Humility: Lessons from Not Being the Smartest Person in the Room Let me share a humbling experience from my professional career, one that taught me invaluable lessons about the power of humility. I found myself in a room filled with brilliant minds, each overflowing with knowledge and expertise. In that moment, I realized the profound truth encapsulated in Albert Einstein’s words: “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” This realization became the cornerstone of my approach to leadership. Here are 5 actionable tips distilled from my experiences: 1. Seek Mentorship: Like a traveler seeking guidance from a seasoned explorer, seek out mentors who can offer valuable insights and wisdom. Embrace the opportunity to learn from those who have walked the path before you. 2. Embrace Lifelong Learning: The journey of learning is endless. Like a sponge absorbing knowledge, cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and growth. Stay curious, explore new ideas, and expand your horizons. 3. Value Diverse Perspectives: Recognize that true wisdom lies in the collective knowledge of diverse perspectives. Like a mosaic composed of different pieces, embrace diversity and actively seek out viewpoints that challenge your own. 4. Practice Active Listening: Effective leadership begins with listening. Like a conductor attuned to every note in an orchestra, practice active listening to truly understand the insights and perspectives of others. 5. Celebrate Team Success: Leadership is not about individual accolades but collective achievement. Like a coach cheering on their team, celebrate the successes of those around you and recognize their contributions. Join the conversation on humility and leadership by using #leadershiptopix. If you found these insights valuable and inspiring, I invite you to like this post and follow me for more empowering content. Together, let’s cultivate a culture of humility and collaboration that propels us towards collective success! #Humility #LeadershipDevelopment #LifelongLearning #Teamwork #Empowerment

Ever wish you could share some wisdom with your younger self? I do, especially when it comes to work. 1. It's more about listening than asking: The true value in research lies in listening to users, observing behavior, and identifying pain points. When we truly listen, we can hear the unsaid, understand the emotions, and identify the pain-points that users themselves aren't consciously aware of. 2. Embrace the outliers: In research, outliers can often reveal innovative solutions. These are the users who use your product in unexpected ways, and their methods can open up entirely new avenues of design and innovation. So always consider the outliers; they might just be the precious keys to your next breakthrough. 3. It's okay to be wrong: Being wrong isn't a failure. In fact, it's one of the best ways to learn. Each wrong assumption or mistake comes with a valuable lesson that helps refine our craft, our approach and ultimately, produce a better design. 4. Going the extra mile: Remember, the goal is not just to design what users need, but also delight them by giving them what they want. It’s about creating a holistic and enjoyable user experience that fosters connection and loyalty. 5. There's always more to learn: Continuous learning is not just a part of this job, it’s the essence of it. Hope these insights help you avoid some of the missteps I made. If you're a seasoned pro, what lessons would you add to this list? Let's learn from each other and continue to elevate our field. #careerwisdom #designtips #research #learningcurve #mistakestoavoid

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬: 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 25+ 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 In the course of my 25+ years in the professional realm, I find myself often approached for valuable career insights, particularly by recent graduates and esteemed colleagues. As I contemplate the myriad experiences that have shaped my professional journey, several experiences emerge. These enduring lessons persist as a steadfast compass, skillfully steering me through the intricate twists and turns of my journey. I earnestly trust that they will prove beneficial and illuminating for you as well. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐍𝐨 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭: Embrace new skills and knowledge as keys to professional growth. Whether picking up a new skill or delving into a different trade, staying relevant in an 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 not only fortifies your expertise but also ignites passion and curiosity. 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬: Learn not only from your own mistakes but also from the 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 of others. Each setback, be it personal or observed in a colleague, serves as a valuable classroom, shaping a more resilient and informed professional journey. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: "Loose lips sink ships" transcends wartime wisdom; it's a timeless reminder that 𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 confidential information fosters trust, strengthens professional relationships, and ultimately safeguards your career voyage. 𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤: Achieving lasting success requires 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆. Embrace the mantra that hard work paves the way to excellence, and staying committed to the grind brings you closer to realizing your professional aspirations. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲: The career journey is far from linear, peppered with highs, lows, and invaluable rejections. Each setback becomes a 𝒑𝒊𝒗𝒐𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉, guiding you toward unforeseen opportunities. To aspiring professionals: embrace the twists, learn from the turns, and trust in the process. Your unique career tapestry is woven through both 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐬. If you have your own valuable lessons to contribute, I invite you to share them in the comments. Let's foster a collaborative exchange of insights to empower and inspire each other and the next generation of professionals.

I have this amazing opportunity to lead retreats for a variety of teams at our organization. Many of these events lead to long-term partnerships. Continuous improvement is essential to continue to create value so I build feedback into the end of each session. Through this feedback, I’m looking for four main things: 💡 What did you learn? 😁 What did you like? ⤴ What do you wish we had more of? ⤵ What do you wish we had less of? It’s not always easy to hear feedback, especially when it leans on the side of things you could do better. But it’s so valuable to the overall experience of others (not to mention my personal growth). Now I know what to keep doing and what to adjust to create a stronger, more lasting experience for others in the future. Do you regularly ask for feedback? Is it built into your 1:1s, meetings, and presentations? If not I encourage you to build this habit into these interactions. Here are some questions I’ve found helpful in sparking great feedback (just asking "Do you have any feedback for me?" often leads to a deer-in-headlights look from others): ➕ What am I doing that’s working for you? Where did I miss the mark? 🤝 Where did you feel most supported by me? Where did you feel least supported by me? 👍 Is there anything I was missing in that conversation? Anything that was helpful? 🎁 What's one thing you appreciated about the presentation? What's one thing you recommend I change? After receiving the feedback, show your appreciation for their honesty. Then continue to circle back with them on changes you've made along the way. This creates a great foundation for continuous feedback in the future. What questions have you found helpful in collecting feedback from others? #feedbackculture #feedback #continuouslearning #continuousimprovement #growthmindset #learningjourney #leadershipdevelopment #culture #receivingfeedback

Picture this: two individuals, each starting a solo business. One is exceptionally intelligent, the other rich in wisdom. Who do you believe has the edge? My bet's on wisdom, every single time. Intelligence, while essential in learning and problem-solving, only goes so far. Wisdom, however, takes it a step further. It uses life's lessons and experience to navigate uncertainty and make informed decisions. In the entrepreneurial journey, where human interaction, dynamic change, and adaptability reign, wisdom shines. It's not just about "Can we do this?" but also, "Should we do this?" and "What's the long-term impact?" As someone who works with many experienced corporate escapees diving into the world of entrepreneurship, I've found that wisdom consistently proves to be a better predictor of success. I think wisdom is such an under-rated attribute which you can develop and enhance. A few suggestions on how to do this: -> Reflection: Try to understand “why” and not just “what” from experiences -> Learn from others: You can gain wisdom from other’s experiences -> Be Openminded: Be receptive to other ideas and perspectives -> Embrace Uncertainty: Change is inevitable, accept it and learn from it It is never too late to develop and leverage your wisdom!

"Change what you do to change where you go" On the journey of growth, it's easy to find yourself stuck in a loop, where days blend into each other, and progress seems like a distant dream. Routine offers comfort, but it's often the graveyard of growth. To foster development, scrutinize your daily habits. What tasks consume disproportionate amounts of time with little return? Identifying and eliminating these inefficiencies can redirect energy to more fruitful endeavors. Embrace Discomfort Growth lies on the other side of comfort. Incorporating new challenges into your routine forces adaptation, learning, and ultimately, improvement. Start with small changes to build resilience and expand your capacity for more significant shifts. Goal Setting and Tracking Define Clear, Achievable Goals Ambiguous aspirations breed inaction. Define clear, achievable goals to provide direction. Break these down into actionable steps to transform daunting tasks into manageable actions. Track Progress What gets measured gets managed. Regularly tracking progress towards your goals not only maintains focus but also provides motivation through visible improvements, no matter how small. Mindset Shift- Cultivate a Growth Mindset Adopt a mindset that views challenges as opportunities to learn rather than insurmountable obstacles. This perspective encourages persistence and resilience, essential qualities for long-term success. Learn from Failure Reframe failure as feedback. Each setback offers valuable insights into what doesn't work, guiding adjustments and innovations in approach. Leveraging Your Environment Create a Conducive Environment Your environment significantly influences behavior. Tailor your surroundings to support your goals. If productivity is the aim, design a distraction-free workspace. If learning, surround yourself with relevant resources and influences. Seek Constructive Feedback Engage with peers, mentors, or coaches who can provide constructive feedback. External perspectives can uncover blind spots and offer insights that propel you forward. Continuous Learning and Adaptation Embrace Lifelong Learning The pursuit of growth is a perpetual journey. Embrace learning as a continuous process. Stay curious, seek new knowledge, and be open to changing your approach based on new insights. Stay Flexible Rigidity is the enemy of growth. The willingness to pivot in response to feedback or changing circumstances is crucial. Flexibility allows for the exploration of new paths and opportunities. In conclusion, changing where you're going starts with a critical assessment and adjustment of what you're doing. Illustration credit: GoLimitless & Shane Parrish #motivation #productivity #work #growthmindsets

Currently, I'm reading "Soul Survivor" by Philip Yancy, a book showcasing his talent for storytelling and his equal talent as a story-finder. His exploration of how one deals with life within the church shed light on the encounters with mentors that shaped his perspective on his life and faith. His storytelling is the living testament that stories are not just told but unearthed, lived through, and passed down.   Throughout his quest, Yancy unearths narratives from people, formally and informally, usually leading to unlikely mentorship experiences. This draws out the concept that profound life lessons often come from sources we least expect. Additionally, this underscores our role in other people's lives. Like it or not, we become that unintentional mentor to those in our sphere of influence.   There are three takeaways from Yancy's approach:   UNEXPECTED WISDOM: This learning is valuable and often comes from the most unexpected source and situation. Be aware of finding wisdom in the unexpected stories of those you meet on life's journey.   SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: You have the ability to give experience to others by reflecting on your own experience. In many instances, through sharing with others, in most cases, your own life story, one often finds oneself unconsciously, often willingly or unwillingly, part of the mentoring cycle.   ENGAGE IN REFLECTIVE THINKING: Take some time, from time to time, to think reflectively about your daily experiences and interactions. Reflective thinking helps you make some sense of the activities around you, allowing you to draw lessons from those events.   Remind yourself that through the innumerable lessons that life is giving you, you could become salt and light for others. Our lives are woven, every intricate thread into the grand design, giving us opportunities to mentor and be mentored in the most serendipitous of ways. Every life is a unique story of significance, and together, we write the magnum opus of human experience, where every chapter holds the potential to be a wellspring of inspiration and hope. #Mentoring #Purpose #Storytelling #Storyfinding #SaltandLight Photo Credit: Shelbie Whitten