Building credibility through learning…….. The Three T’s to getting started
Seen enough advice and opportunities to get you moving in 2018 but just want something to get you started?
A succinct blog on three actions for success and opportunity
Time to Think
Thinking is an opportunity to optimise your amazing subconscious strengths rather than be bowled over continuously by your conscious
Limited time, deadlines and people wanting a piece of you (whether family, friends and or work) means that we often dismiss the value of stopping and thinking. Many an ‘expert’ has written about the value including Nancy Kline (Time to Think) and Shaun Acher (The Happiness Advantage) but the idea of space for success has been around for centuries. I offer up three opportunities to #gettingstarted:
a. Set the alarm 15 minutes earlier and sit up in bed and take the time to think and reflect. (I have known night owls to achieve this!)
b. Take 5 before you head home / move on to the next commitment. Doing nothing is doing something and everyone will benefit from your different persona and thoughts.
c. Stop walk, run, swim or just sit and close your eyes. (Putting headphones on doesnt make you look quite so stupid if you take the sitting option!)
Talk
Talking is the oldest means to communicate, share and learn. Its as valuable today as it was the years before us.
As Mark Britz says:
“knowledge doesn’t exist within us but between us, in our conversations“
We assume that talking is a luxury that only those with ‘time on their hands’ can afford to do. I was recently talking with the Andy Lancaster at the CIPD and near the end of the conversation he said lets have more conversations like this.
As I took the train home I reflected on whether that was a fob off or an opportunity. With a positive mindset I took the second option as the value of sharing is amazing.
Each conversation has the opportunity of learning and making choices. As professionals, parents, friends, coaches and members of community we can all support others and at the same time learn. Here are 3 ways to #gettingstarted:
a. Mentor someone-We all have knowledge, wisdom and a different perspective. Whatever the community take up the challenge and see what you learn along the way and the smiles you get.
b. Start an interest group-With ‘roles’ as we know today evolving and work looking more like short term project in teams that will come and go. Here is an opportunity to build your own diverse group for learning, sharing and problem solving.
c. Connecting with people in your profession / area of interest and reflect on the outcome you’ll be amazed on what you have learnt. How about trying #LDInsight every Friday at 0800hrs GMT.
Travel
Travel is the lifeblood of creativity, innovation and opportunities. It can be in body and or mind.
Centuries ago people moved to seek new things and hope with little or no resources. Today’s climate means this is no different.
a. Take a walk for a meeting. Nilofer Merchant shared a great short presentation in her TED talk about the health and productivity benefits. Have a go and get a few steps in along the way.
b. Go somewhere different. Whether you work in a different room in your house, visit a new city or read something different, new experiences create different perspectives and opportunities.
c. Travel to the unknown. Do something stretches you a little and travel to the edge of your comfort zone. How about write a blog? Read a different type of novel, try a new coffee or dont drink it for a week.
Have you noticed a theme here? Learning
Learning has been at the heart of all successful stories. Dont miss out and make the time to think, talk and travel and remember to say Thank You!
It would be great to hear about your experiences and what opportunities and learnings have happened.Happy learning and developing.
This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by 281,454+ people.
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