Closing The Improvement Gap

Here We Grow Again – Closing the Improvement Gap

Great leaders never stop learning.? Right?

If that is the case, what are the essentials that seem to fall off or get neglected?

Being Open

When we admit that we can always learn, grow, and improve, we start thinking positively. Leveraging what we know (our strengths) and working to minimize what we don't (our weaknesses) makes us aware of the need to be open, curious, and willing to get better every day.

Here’s a TL question that I ask myself often –

What am I willing to do that others may not be willing to do?

By the way, these open, curious, and willing attributes prepare us for all of the other essentials I’m about to share.

Thinking Better

Our brain is a powerful muscle.? I contend the most powerful in the human body.? Learning better, learning differently, learning more requires disciplined exercise.? If the way you’re thinking isn’t producing the feelings - you want, and the behaviors you need… it’s time to think differently.? We have to think about what we’re thinking about – before we act on what we’re thinking about.

Asking Better

Great leaders are curious.? Asking better questions is key. Questioning is a skill that engages people and makes everyone think about what they're doing and why they're doing it. It tells others that you care about what they think and that their perspective adds value to any process.

What do we ask?

·??????? Ask For Input [The engagement challenge may be solved with a simple question that makes room for collaboration.]

·??????? Ask For Feedback [The trust challenge may be solved with our willingness to receive feedback from others, and create a dialogue where feedback flows freely for continuous improvement.]

·??????? Ask For Opinions [The bias challenge may be solved by welcoming the thoughts and opinions of another.]

·??????? Ask For Time [The efficiency challenge may be solved by prioritizing, collaborating, and eliminating the things that consume time for everyone.]

Envisioning Better

Goal setting is an underappreciated skill, as little gets done that isn't written down and clearly stated. If you've never set goals, you are likely underachieving. Start with BECOME goals. ?We love to do, but doing outside of purpose becomes transactionally frustrating.? Here’s a simple exercise that will stimulate this process.? Fill in the following reflective statement for yourself –

·??????? I want to become the type of leader (could be man, or woman here) that ______

·??????? I want to become the type of spouse that ______________

·??????? I want to become the type of father / son / wife / daughter – that ______________

Then you’ll be able to write some goals that develop your skills or other key areas of the organization.

Reflecting Better

I executive coach leaders from all over the world.? When I ask them how much time they spend reflecting, it is usually either very little or none at all.? Thinking and preparing for what happens daily is a mental exercise that gives you an edge.? If we sleepwalk through our day and rely upon what we already know to pull us through, we’ll always fall short of better. ?Reflective preparation doesn't have to be arduous and time-consuming. Preparation is about anticipating who you want to become, what you hope to achieve, what might happen and being ready for what does happen.

Receiving Better

If you’re awkward with receiving, whether that’s praise and affirmation, or input and feedback – getting better is impossible.? Never fear feedback; think of it as a gift and be thankful for those who provide it. We all need it, and just because you receive it doesn't mean it’s true.? Feedback is information.? That information will hopefully tell you more about yourself, more about others, and more about the moment or situation you are in. Weigh all of it and use it to get better.

?

In our ever-increasing quest to get better – better happens one decision at a time, one relationship at a time, one commitment at a time, and one day at a time.

Patrick McBane?is a Lead Trainer - Director of Global Initiatives for Transformational Leadership, Founder of?Marketplace Solutions?and Owner - Life Needs Leadership, LLC.

Transformational Leadership?helps you identify, address?and remove personal, team and process?constraints. Removing these constraints allows?transformation to occur and encourages healthy, trusting relationships to grow.