Kickoff #2015LLE! Share your lessons learned here on the “2015 Lessons Learned Exchange”…

If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time you know that an over-arching theme is exploring, learning and finding ways to develop as a leader. Obviously one of the key ways of doing that is not just to “consume” but to share. Since we’re getting close to the end of the year (hard to believe!), it’s a great time to do exactly that…AND, just like in 2014, I invite you to do it HERE!

How does it work? It’s really simple. I’m asking each reader to write 2 important lessons learned in the comment section below. By the end of December, I’ll summarize all the entries and synthesize the key lessons learned for you to review — a “crowd-sourced” summary of 2015.

In 2014, nine themes came to to light, focusing primarily on the theme of “relationships” (click here to read). I’m really excited to see what learnings will emerge this year.

So here we go, kickoff #2015LLE – “2015 Lessons Learned Exchange.” Thanks in advance for sharing!

learn_and_sharePicture: www.dwarkeshkdiwan.wordpress.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. 1) Do the work that is in front of you. Law school encourages students to look to the future and make big plans. This is great, but it cannot distract from the work that must be done today. Always keep the big picture in mind. But don’t allow where you hope to be to keep you from developing the skills and the character needed to be effective when the time to do big things comes.
    2) Do not waste time trying to reach perfection. Be great, but recognize when you are no longer making noticeable progress. Sometimes you have to stop tinkering, turn in your product and move on to the next thing.

  2. I’ve learned a ton this year, but will share with you the two key components that come to mind. First is to keep serving no matter what circumstances that you may be accruing. You have a choice to live in the problem or live in the solution of your situation. Live in the present and be grateful for those you serve and who serve with you. Secondly, I have learned that business models change. What systems that may have worked for a decade ago in your business may not be at all current today. For example, when I was a kid blockbuster video was just killing it in profit. Fast forward a decade or so and netflix has just buried blockbuster and this type of business no longer exists. Technology is still viable and profitable, however you have go be prepared for a shift in your approach in your specialty of service. I can’t help myself, but one last lesson I have learned in running a small business. Always have your eye out there for some new office help as you never know when someone will leave and you may need to fill their position. You don’t want to be hit with a ground zero reset where you have to hire an entire staff at one time. Pass cards out wherever you go and compile a list of names of prospects along you business journeys. This will help when you need to fill a slot at your business. Hope this helps and please feel free to contact me should you need a chiropractor in the Greenville, SC area. ALWAY REACHING EVEN HERE—-AIM HIGH!!

  3. I’ll share a practical lesson I learned this year that I feel I consistently applied once I identified it. This week marks my first year anniversary as an internal auditor at Fluor Corp. Having this job means I regularly talk to a lot of new people about sometimes in depth processes that I’m personally unfamiliar with, as in a company this size with so many different projects and facets, the details of things are unfortunately not done the same way everywhere (hence the need for internal auditors to, for one thing, promote cohesion). What I found was that when talking to these process owners, I needed to make extra effort to make sure I communicated the fact that I know I’m just learning and that I don’t think I know everything and that this person is the expert. What I found was that though I didn’t believe I was coming off like I knew everything, the fact that I was a young auditor made people automatically think I thought I knew everything and was talking down to them. And who knows, maybe I actually was coming off like that sometimes. Regardless, when it was brought to my attention I took it as an opportunity to check myself and adjust how I dealt with people. It has paid off as I’ve found people I’m auditing are more likely to happily help me / get me what I need in a timely manner. Overall the lesson was that how you think you come off to people and how others perceive you are usually much different, and you need to take deliberate steps to bridge a gap you can’t see.

  4. Now if only we can get Shane to post, we’ll have a Momentum Group reunion!

    This was a harder exercise than I thought it would be…

    1) The peg of ‘Kenneth’ fits in some holes but not in others
    I used to think that I could do excellent work at any job I put my mind to. In 2015 I realized that there are some jobs I just can’t (or maybe won’t) do excellently. Sure, I can do a passable job but it’s evident to me and everyone watching that I’m not swinging from my ‘sweet spot’. Result: after years of home runs, I’m barely beating out singles to first! My lesson learned is this quote from Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

    2) Don’t underestimate the power of small actions
    A very small thing repeated on a daily basis can make a big difference. However, I’m fooled into thinking I need really big actions to make a change! Big changes start with small steps that are repeated every day.

  5. Lesson 1: Organizational culture is the most important factor in the health of an organization, and culture is affected through relationships. Vision, goals, strategy, etc., are all important factors in organizational strength, but healthy relationships among leaders (peer-to-peer) and between leaders and members (hierarchical) is the ground in which organizational health and growth happens.

    Lesson 2: Live with the long-term vision in mind. Short-term gains are encouraging. By the same token, lack of short-term gains can be disheartening. It’s important not to get too high or two low, based on what we are seeing in the here-and-now. Living, growing, working with a long-term view allows for perseverance in the tough times and for reasonable joy in the happy times. Thinking big picture, long-term allows present circumstances to settle in place where they should.