Growth. What does it mean to you?

As I move in the midst of all the topics directly or otherwise related with agility, I often come across many buzzwords and “motivational” phrases. It gets to a point where I need to log off and just shift my mind to a completely different subject, usually spending endless hours watching science or true crime documentaries, or stand up comedy (that's my way of disconnecting from everything else).

However, there are a couple of words that have stuck with me through all these years, and those words ultimately have a deep a greater meaning when it comes to growth. This is all from a personal perspective but you could easily adapt it to yourself, a team, or organisation. All in all, this is my growth story, and you should have your own.

YET

Whenever I catch myself falling through the trap of imposter syndrome, or I feel there's something I can't achieve, I always try to provide some sort of context in order to help myself, and see the positive side of things and, consequently, push myself forward. This comes in the form the word YET. Simply put, when you don't know something, instead of thinking "I don't know how to do this!", just go for "I don't know how to do this, yet!". Or, "I haven't made it!", replaced with "I haven't made it, yet!". From there, think about what are the steps you need to take to get to a point where that feeling no longer applies. But be sure to understand that this is NOT an excuse to procrastinate.

Also, consider who else can help you get there, as no one can do everything alone. Sometimes we need to know when and how to ask for help. There's no shame in admitting you need help. Quite the opposite. It shows you are eager and willing to learn.

FEAR

No one likes fear. Well... let me rephrase that. No one likes real situations that trigger fear. Many enjoy the jump scare from movies and carnival rides. That's not the same. Those are safe. However, real fear - and to some degree "fake" fear - does trigger what is commonly known as an adrenaline rush. This is where our body physically reacts to fear, putting us in a state of readiness for survival.

Now, we all know that some freeze, some fight, some flight. That's the action after the adrenaline rush, and that can be trained and conditioned. Having said that, for this particular situation, I do enjoy fear. Fear of not achieving my objectives; fear of not being good enough; fear of failure. Why? Because it pushes me forward.

Whenever I come across a situation where my mind becomes clouded with doubt and fear of... failure, unknown, etc., my "adrenaline rush" tells me to look for answers. So, in this case, fear becomes a fuel for kaizen. For improvement. I like that kind of "fear".

Don't be afraid to fail. Be afraid to not use failure as a learning opportunity.

LISTEN

I tend to speak a lot. Really, a lot. I am a teacher and a trainer. It's what I do. But I am also a coach, and a mentor. And to do that part of my job well, I need to listen. Also, always assuming I am not the most intelligent mind in a room, I tend to take a "back of the room" stance and listen. To everything, and everyone. Activelly. Usually active listening* is done in 1:2:1 sessions but you can apply similar principles to a group event. Also, observe. If you can be physically present, even better. If not, sometimes, cameras will suffice. Body language is more than half of the message.

I also apply the LISTEN technique to my readings. Of course that if I am going through an audiobook, it's already implied, but I find that reading while saying the words (could be as low as you want, just as long as you still read them) will improve your understanding of what you're reading and also help with your language skills. I am not an english native speaker and I find this to be very useful.

*Active listening requires you to?listen attentively to a speaker, understand what they're saying, respond and reflect on what's being said, and retain the information for later.?

Concluding this train of thought, my personal growth is my own, and each and every one of you should do whatever works for you. These are some of the things that help me grow, as a person and a professional. What are yours? Care to share them?

Article originally published in Medium.