9 Questions ... Question 3, Week 3, (day 1)

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something." ~ Neil Gaiman

Q3: How might we become more skillful learners, courageously venturing into the unknown?

Individuals and teams need to learn and grow: journeys of inquiry are the means by which deep learning take place.

How might we understand the dynamics of these journeys, and help our colleagues, teams and organizations travel them, to emerge with breakthrough insights that lead to important changes?

A few notes before we begin:

1. So, here we are at Questions 3, Week 2 (day 1) with an invitation to?"become more skillful learners, courageously venturing into the unknown?"
2. I'm appreciative of those who have reached out to me and to those of you who are following the dialogue around 9 Questions for Leadership in Life and Work. In response to a few inquiries, you are more than welcome to use the materials for your classroom and colleagues; though unnecessary, we would appreciate hearing back regarding your learnings.
3. Several of you have inquired about a synchronous time when we might gather to discuss 9Qs; at the moment, I'm thinking that we might offer this as an invitation after Week 4.
4. As always, your feedback, suggestions and dialogue are welcomed, invited and encouraged. And, please feel free to connect via LinkedIn if you are inclined.

For me, ... I've been walking around the apartment, made some tea, folded laundry, started a new load of wash, cleaned the kitchen, and otherwise tip-toeing around the subject at hand -- the "leaning into or venturing into the unknown." So here goes ...

A few reflections ...

1. I find leaning into the "unknown a challenge and hard to do ...." Do I require a greater or stronger faith in walking forward or waiting for the unknown to unfold? Sometimes this has felt as if I'm not doing something that I should be doing, that I should be more active, more of a planner, have it -- whatever it us -- under control and thought out, analyzed, predicted and predicated upon some research or data. How might I lean courageously into the unknown with confidence and trust without feeling that I've not done part? How might I lean courageously into the unknown without feeling that I've somehow let myself or others down -- that this waiting time is not seen as weakness or failure?
2. Now, on the other hand, if I look back at the various pathways in my life across faith, learning, career, purpose, family and other "communities of possibilities," that the best moments and times have always arrived when I've taken a different path, or a leap, launched into a new conversation, remained silent and listening or simply decided to stand (or sit) and wait -- that in those moments, when I've waited and trusted, that the universe has responded or I've been still enough to see the possibilities a new. I've often described these moment as border crossings as there's a fair amount of dissonance, confusion and difference to held but then new pattens and opportunities -- and people -- have presented themselves.
3. So, while I know on the one hand that "leaning courageously into the unknown" has presented miracles (I'm more comfortable with that word today than 10 years ago), this still represents an uphill battle for me; I do not go easily into this space.
4. So, for the remainder of this course, I'm going to work to practice at this a bit more through some additional prayer and meditation each day for discernment and accompaniment. In addition, I'm going to read the two books about journeys and how we live our lives highlighted in the photo above and noted here: How are we to live? by Peter Singer and Solito , a memoir by Javier Zamora .
5. Finally, I really do believe in this and that the more we practice at this the more we will be able to trust and have confidence in designing processes and guard rails as we practice at "leaning courageously into the unknown."
6. And, I will keep you updated and posted.

Peace and blessings.

Gerald Doyle

Accompanying Resources for the 10 Week Course:

9 Questions for Leadership in Life and Work ?(you are welcome to download a complimentary copy of this book)

Resources for Question 3: Learning Journeys (you are welcome to download a complimentary copy of this book)

Tri Cosain: Weaving inspiration, learning and career

Gerald and Scott are co-founders of?Tri Cosain , a practice which weaves inspiration, learning and career coaching for leadership in life and work; they are the?co-authors of?9 Questions for Leadership in Life and Work ,?Conversations of Inquiry ?(a workbook and an invitation to explore),?Reflections on Careers ?(an interactive workbook). All of these publications are freely available for you to download.

Their work embraces equity, inclusion, diversity, accessibility and well-being as foundations for personal leadership.

Gerald Doyle serves on the faculty of?Wolcott College Preparatory High School , provides Ministry Placement Research/Consulting for Career Formation Services at the?Catholic Theological Union , advises several edtech companies including?Upkey ?and?GetSet ?and works as a Higher Education Consultant at?TSI - Transforming Solutions, Inc.

Scott Downs, an Agile and Design Thinking Coach, calls forward great Agile delivery teams, with leaders in every chair.