INsight/ Know or Grow

Photo by Thao Le Hoang on Unsplash

Manila, 30 September 2020 — To know or to grow is the question.

You learn through practice. Remember your parents and school teachers telling you this when you were young?

No?

Then it’s more likely that you were told to learn by memorizing information in books. Or, in recent times, by doing more creative thinking.

I remember learning skills through repetitive practice. Like musical scales on the piano. Taking penalty corners in the hockey team. And later, writing a Chinese character 30 times, hoping that my teacher might find at least one to be 不错 (bùcùo - not bad) and showing some signs of learning. 

Today, as I help leaders in different countries to develop their workplace skills and navigate transitions, I found that almost all their gains come from practice and support, including feedback.

In #Grow3Leaders, members are getting used to hearing me compare the community to a Dojo where you come regularly to practice your leadership skills together in a safe space.

This month, members have practiced using seven color languages to speak in work situations. And getting feedback on that, from each other and me. 

To master speaking effectively in your favorite language (worldview, style) is not easy, let alone learning to speak in a language that feels uncomfortable to you. Practice is what makes you grow, and unexpected learning comes from that practice: 

“Wow, it's harder than I thought to be deliberate with language and to pick a perspective. Harder still to make sure that the color [language] seen is the color we were trying to portray.”

“After a period of practice, one can pull it through… practice is the key in how to make the best use of this tool.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to practice in a safe space and to have fun with friends. Looking forward to the ongoing development journey.”

How are you investing in your practice with others? Where is your leadership Dojo?

Early this morning when the sun was rising, I joined a live practice session for a new method to ‘Clean up the Past’ by browsing and releasing energies from past experiences in work and life. I enjoyed it and learned a lot. And I realized that what made it truly worthwhile was not me reading about it, but doing the practice. 

So let’s get back to the question to know or to grow.

Seth Godin, a writer, taught us to watch what is scarce and what is abundant change over time. Today, information and knowledge are no longer scarce. People who invest in practice are.

Are you one of them?