While introducing me to a group last fall, my friend Bo
Prosser said, “Ircel has shown an ability to reinvent himself.” I felt complimented by this observation and
readily embrace it. Although my
vocational bent has been Christian ministry, I have had the opportunity to
pursue that vocation in several ways—pastoral leader, campus minister,
denominational worker, and now as a coach and educator.
Some of this has been intentional but there have also been
times when, in the providence of God, doors have opened that I did not
expect. I say this to be very clear that
there are some things that we do not orchestrate in our lives, but even so we
can develop a mindset that is open to learning, inquiry, and personal growth
that provides new insights and prepares us for the unexpected.
Learning is a key to this idea of reinvention. In an article in the Harvard Business Review,
Monique Valcour suggested some intentional steps one can take to address the
question one of her clients asked, “How do I stay fresh and convince people
that I still have a lot to contribute?”
Here are her suggestions.
First, ask for feedback.
Others see things that we don’t see ourselves. If you ask for their comments, however, be
prepared to listen without becoming defensive.
Knowing how to receive feedback is as important as being able to ask for
it.
Second, experiment with new approaches or behaviors. Doing this helps a person to take on a fresh
perspective. All of us are captive to “the
way we have always done things.” If we
can get into new environments, see how others do things, and try out some new behaviors,
new understanding can emerge.
Third, look for connections across seemingly unrelated
areas. Developing expertise in some area totally unrelated to your primary
vocation can open your eyes to possibilities within your present
situation. You do not have to be a “Renaissance
person” adept in many areas in order to experiment cross-fertilization.
Reading outside your normal areas of interest,
learning a new hobby or craft, or attending a conference with people you don’t already
know can produce interesting connections.
Fourth, make time for reflection. It is one thing to have varied experiences
and another to actually learn from them.
If you take notes, set aside some time to reflect on them and think
about specific application to where you are right now in life. Debrief your
experiences with a friend. This is where the real learning takes place.
As Valcour notes, all of these are elements of
coaching. David Peterson of Google calls
coaching “the ultimate customized learning solution.” As we are involved in coaching, we are
challenged to learn more about ourselves and to act on that learning.
Even if you do not have a coach, however, you can practice
these steps and engage in meaningful learning.
Please understand that I am as resistant to change as anyone, but if we
continually engage in these behaviors, learning and change becomes second
nature to us.
Next: How can we help
others to reinvent themselves?
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