Last week I was asked a fascinating question by an experienced facilitator that taught me something new about learning. I was describing a process and methodology we would follow for an exercise and then afterwards he pulled me aside to build on the structure with a question.
(more…)10-Day Experiment
A tool is a device or implement used to carry out a particular function. To become a better leader, we must use tools (not physical but mental tools) to make progress in our life.
I want to share with you a simple tool called the 10-Day Experiment. It is so simple it is almost hard to call it a tool, but it goes like this.
(more…)Learning Better
Learning something new is hard. In college I struggled because much of the focus was on reading textbooks and then taking a test to ensure I understood the content. Textbooks can be a powerful way to learn, and we can elevate our learning with a few small tweaks.
(more…)Overcoming Barriers to Personal Growth
I love to teach and recently had the opportunity to visit and facilitate a college course at Wichita State University. The course was hosted by the Kansas Leadership Center. The curriculum is based on principles of Adaptive Leadership from Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky.
The definition of leadership shared in the course is:
(more…)2021 Year in Review
The exercise of writing down and reflecting on the year is useful. I love reading other’s new year resolutions and how they choose to want to become better. I have time to reflect and time to think about what the next year will hold for me and my family.
In my reflection I realized this year was a year of firsts. Here are a few firsts for me and my family in 2021
(more…)Drawing the Perfect Unicorn
A few days ago I watched my daughter as she attempted to draw a picture of a unicorn. After a few pencil lines she would crumple the paper and start over on a new sheet of paper. I soon learned she wanted the picture of her unicorn to be perfect and if it wasn’t perfect she didn’t want to keep it.
(more…)Finding Your Purpose
Shortly after college I sat down to do some introspection about what I want to do with my life and read various resources about “finding your purpose”. As I pondered and tried to come up with a purpose statement, I would write, then cross it out and then re-write. Then I got to a place that I thought – oh this must be it.
(more…)True Greatness Comes Through Iteration
Iteration is learning by degrees, with intentionality and purpose.
A representation of this process can be found below.
(more…)The Essence of Learning
For several weeks I have been pondering a question – what is learning?
I consider learning effective, when one can carry out a task for productive gain, learning requires action. My current definition of learning is:
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