We are now almost 60 days into 2021.
This past week I asked a dozen or so people, (friends, colleagues, people I know), if they have kept up with their New Year resolutions so far.
About half laughed and scoffed, and said they were just trying to “make it” right now. That 2020 “kicked their butt” and they are hoping this next year will be better!
Another few of the people said they did have a few resolutions that they were still working on, but some had already fallen to the wayside.
Then there are those couple of people, who said they have their resolutions, and they are working them diligently.
This was by no means scientific, but more of a random, conversational survey with a small group. But I am willing to bet, this is the breakdown of most of the public. In fact, I have done more intensive surveys in the past with larger groups of people in a more scientific way, and the results were similar.
Being in the people-development business, I have found that personal development is one of those tasks, that when asked, people say it is important. However, their actions do not always reflect this. There are always larger priorities, something that is more urgent, or deadlines that have to be made. So, at the end of the day, week, or month, the average person may not have taken any time for their own development.
When having a conversation about this topic during coaching sessions, I always ask, “are you a better (leader, father, person, husband, employee) today than you were a year ago?” And if they say yes, I ask “How? How are you better today? What have you done to get better?”
Many times, the answer is through an experience or event that has happened. Which is great as people do grow through experiences. But what if you did not have that experience or event? Would you have grown? The point being, we cannot wait and hope that an experience or event will make us better.
In my workshops and coaching sessions, we go a little deeper. We take time to identify a person’s positive skills. Would they benefit from being even better in this area? If so, then it becomes a focus point. Then we look at the areas where they are not very skilled. If they improved in these areas, would it make a difference? If so, then it may be an area of focus.
We should not have “hope” that we will be a better person and “hope” that the experiences we have will make us better. We should have a plan to be better. And with that plan, a commitment to make it happen.
We should have A Commitment To Be Better.
Prime Leadership & Development 