Hopefully you’ve read the first four articles in the series? In this article we will dive into figuring out what you want to try to close the gap or build up what you already have - this gets you into action!
Here are some things about change you need to know. Change can be brought about by:
Learning something new, new knowledge or a new skill
Learning something about what you have, uncovering a new insight about yourself
Behaving differently, and having a positive impact on someone else
Communicating differently and building a new relationship with someone else
Here is where you might get a little put off and have a few challenges. I don’t think it will be scary but, I am sure it will be uncomfortable.
This is where you get ready to try things out. Yep, you choose something to try and you put it out in the wild, right now.
The biggest thing here is courage! You have to find the courage to do this, now. And this is also where you need to lean on those people you have enlisted to help you! The reason I say this is because trying new things, new behaviours, new ways of talking and being with others, can be scary and they may not always work the first time.
So, just putting this list of things together that address the gap or the strengths you want to build on or the context created weaknesses you want to account for, or the things you want to learn about yourself, others, your work, your family, all take courage.
The most important thing here is the list has to be what you want to work on. The list has to contain those things that are worthy of your time and effort! As Michael Bungay Stanier says in his book “The Advice Trap”, worthy means:
Am I excited about what could happen if I make this change!
What will come from this change is important to me!
Making this change is a bit daunting so I have to push myself a bit to make it happen!
If each of those three things apply to an item on your list, then that thing is worthy of your time and effort. It also means that the thing you are choosing is “hard” to do and is an activity that, just by trying, will provide a growth opportunity for you!
The second most important thing is that this list will change as you progress! First because the shape of the gap between ideal and current self is changing and might need different things later. Second, as you try new things and they work or they don’t work, you get to adjust that thing or take it off the list! The process is flexible, not rigid so, be ready to adjust.
Remember to run this list by those folks you’ve enlisted to support you. Listen to their feedback and decide if you want to apply it or not. Whether you do is up to you. Have a conversation about the feedback with the person who provided it in either case. And, now that you have a list of worthy things to try, let’s move on to the next step.
The last thing in this step (4) is to figure out which of these things has the biggest benefit for you or others, or is most important. You’ll need to have a strong, clear idea of what makes it beneficial or important for it to me motivating for you. Also be honest and clear with yourself about what you will have learned or what will have changed for you when it is done.
Then sit with the list and get comfortable with it. The next step is getting into action - it's about time, right!?