“I still feel like I’m just starting out! I don’t ever want to retire.”
The Google estimates that Dolly Parton has written over 5,000 songs, has performed over 500 concerts, made countless appearances, and her literacy program has donated 250,000,000 books to children in the US and around the world. Just getting started???? Dolly Parton is clearly not just getting started. What I hear when I read that quote is that Dolly has a beginner’s mindset, even after all of the years and all of the success.
Forbes describes a beginner’s mindset as a state of openness and curiosity without any preconceived notions or expectations. Each day, each situation, each encounter is an opportunity to learn something new or to try a new way to accomplish something. In today’s world of constant change – such a trite sentence but oh so true – we are constantly presented with “new”. We’re facing challenges in the world we’ve never seen before. We’re learning to use and leverage tools we may never have imagined. Our workforce includes four or five generations who all come at things in different ways. A leader, therefore, needs to have a beginner’s mindset. Leadership behaviors, expectations of employees and ecosystem partners change on the daily. The things that worked 20 years ago may not work today. Or they might work differently than they used to. Or they might work brilliantly, in another context.
When a leader has a beginner’s mindset, solutions are co-creations because we’re learning together. When a leader has a beginner’s mindset, their energy and drive to solve today's challenges and achieve more stays high. And when a leader is co creating with high energy, that leader is going to be pretty darn successful.
Be like Dolly. Stay a beginner.
Very true. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the experts mind there are few - Shunryu Suzuki : Zen Buddhist
Insurance Technology Executive | Strategic Advisor | Digital Transformation Leader
2 个月Great post Kim Curley... I especially liked how you tied it together with "When a leader has a beginner’s mindset, solutions are co-creations..." Like Dolly, pitch-perfect!
Product Operations | Strategic Implementation | Corporate Integration | Program & Project Management
2 个月This is the message I needed to hear today!
I can help you navigate complex changes and build approaches that fit an organization’s culture and deliver results. Always ask: "What does DONE look like?"
2 个月Love this! One of my favorite phrases to use in a new situation is, “I wonder if…”. Frees up everyone to explore and think about what could be different. Helps make it low risk to suggest ideas. “ I wonder if ABC would be helpful?” “ I wonder if XYZ could be done differently?” After all, you’re just wondering… ??
Transformational Business Leader | Driving Digital Innovation, Multi-Billion Dollar Growth & Market Expansion | Strategic Board Advisor | CRO | CSO | Cyber, AI, Cloud and Blockchain Innovator
2 个月There's this expectation in the US that we need to retire at 65 or younger. I continue to learn new skill sets and will always have a "beginner's mindset". Great article!