Development
Coaching Tip # 59
I fundamentally believe that development is a key to ongoing success. When we get too busy to learn, gain a new perspective or acknowledge an error in judgement, we unwittingly miss an opportunity for growth. Commitments, to do lists, and full calendars can get in the way of our own development.
But is that true? Or, is it just a story that we are telling ourselves?
We know that you matter to others. Your schedule says so: it is full of commitments that you have made to others.
I want you to stop and say out loud: I matter, too! The pursuit of development is not selfish: it is essential.
Here are the three reasons why it is important to make personal development a priority.
You did not get to where you are today without working on your own development. I see countless leaders who prioritized their development to get to their current level, but have since stopped investing in themselves. This is a recipe for future frustration, boredom, a dysfunctional team, a broken relationship or not fulfilling your potential.
We must strive each day to ‘walk the talk’ that we encourage to others to follow. If you want to get the best out of others, then you need to demand the best from you – by continuing to create space to grow and evolve.
We all have knowledge gaps, blind spots and shadows of our great strengths. Without taking the time for a pause, we can easily get stuck in patterns that do not align with our goals. Being aware that you are stuck in a pattern is not enough. It is the daily application of that awareness that creates positive change.
Personal development in not easy to prioritize when you are an adult. Research has found that when we consciously anticipate the setbacks we will face in pursuit of our goal, we are far more likely to overcome them.
Here’s an example of how you might do that. Imagine that you want to learn how to code, so you sign up for a pace-yourself course on the internet. For the last 3 weeks, you’ve been struggling to make it a priority with all of the other commitments in your busy day. How might you overcome this obstacle?
One idea: determine what time of day is your best learning time. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Often in our busy lives, we do not even stop to consider how to engage in our commitments in an optimal way. It could be weekends, weeknights, or even the early mornings.
I worked with a client who grew up getting up at 5 am to go his athletic practice. As he morphed into an adult, his wake-up time switched to 630 am. Through our conversations, he realized that he had trained himself to function early in the morning and that time was a gold mine of opportunity. He started getting up a couple of days a week at 5 am to use that time for his personal growth. The more he engaged in his learning, the easier it was for him to set aside future time. He still treasures that time today, and describes it as “a training session for my future.”
Another idea comes from a different client, who was dedicated about setting aside this time for herself, but found it constantly interrupted by colleagues, family, pets, and household responsibilities. She realized that she needed to set firmer boundaries and began to turn on her ‘Do Not Disturb’ on her phone until after she had completed her ‘me time’. Through our coaching, she realized that when you honor your commitment to you, that you matter too, it will positively affect those that surround you. And if someone really needs you, they will find you!
My challenge for you today is to outline 1 to 3 obstacles that get in the way of your personal development.
From there, brainstorm a few potential solutions. Whether that’s changing the time of day you do it, re-prioritizing other commitments on your calendar, breaking it into more achievable chunks, or asking for support from a loved one or colleague, there are always ways to overcome these obstacles.
With this awareness, you can make personal development a priority.