A few months from now Scott P. assumes the CEO position of a large health care facility. It’s a huge personal and professional goal - one he has earned, according to written comments from his colleagues and direct reports on his latest leadership assessment.
“Scott has our team working together and has been willing to change himself to make it work.”
“Scott has grown tremendously as a leader.“
Leadership coaches would drool to have more clients with as much resolve and commitment as Scott. He’s accepted feedback on a regular basis from his boss, colleagues and direct reports -and no matter what anyone tells you that’s not easy to do. There was even a senior executive team retreat, “in the woods,” where everyone got the in-your-face version of “how you can improve.” Oh, that sounds like fun.
Anyway, Scott has made plans for improving, worked them and obviously benefited himself and his team.
I’m proud of Scott. He’s learned a lot about himself. But now Scott needs to move on to other paths of “discovery.” Maybe something less cerebral, like rafting the Zambezi, the wildest water on the planet. Hoeing corn in Central America would work too.
When the 75 members of Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Advisory Council were asked to recommend the most important capability for leaders to develop, their answer was nearly unanimous: self-awareness. Author, successful business man and now Harvard Business School Professor, Bill George, says his advice to the people he mentors, “is simply to be themselves.” Consistent dedication to learning more about who we are would seem high octane fuel for becoming a great leader.
How do you do that? Well, you can learn something about yourself in a process much like Scott went through. But you can also discover more about you in a rich dialog with a trusted colleague, by reading a book (if you are interested in a check on your credibility, might I suggest one I co-authored) attend an executive retreat or zip off to a global leadership course. (Here’s one with a great reputation In Switzerland.)
As much as self-discovery has a lofty appeal, the fact is if you don’t make an effort you’ll just keep undertaking the same steps and that gets – well, what can I say? It gets b-o-r-i-n-g (even for the coach.)
Keep the pace of discovery different. And don’t be afraid of absurd ideas for your discovery.
According to Susan Stephanie Smith, president of Stratex, an executive consulting firm in New York City, you can rock climb your way to leadership success. In yesterday’s New York Times she states, “If you spent a sabbatical rock climbing, you had the experience of successfully tackling a challenge and that translates to changes in leadership style and self-perception.”
She’s right. Success in becoming more self-aware lies in finding creative ways to mix it up. How does sailing the Atlantic or working with coffee farmers in Guatemala translate to more effective leadership? Check out stories of people who’ve done just that.
This evening while you’re headed home from work be introspective. Ask: What did I learn about myself today? That’s great that you’re doing that.
But before you pull in the driveway or have them park your airplane, ask yourself what you might learn if you bumped up the old self-discovery button.
Pretend you just pitched your tent in the San Juan Mountains outside of Telluride. You haven’t had a bath or seen another person for three days. You’re contemplating a jump in the icy waters of Bear Creek. Are you really going to get naked and do it? What about the “bears” the creek is named after?
I, for one, would love to know what you learned about yourself.
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