I am thankful to witness the beginning of a new year! Despite 2024 being a difficult season for me, it was a year of substantial personal development. During my coach training, I was taught to create space for learning moments for my clients. This deliberate practice of taking a pause, reflecting on experiences, and identifying key insights is framed as The Learning Question by Michael Bungay-Stanier (MBS) in his book The Coaching Habit. This straightforward Learning Question asks: "What was most useful for you?"
As I pondered this Learning Question in looking back over 2024 and contemplated this "What Are You Leaving Behind vs. What Are You Taking With You?" career transition exercise, I developed this list of key lessons learned that I'm taking into 2025.
Be honorable & fight for honor - It's about the position more-so than the person. It takes courage & resilience to build and maintain a culture of honor.
Own the role; don't let the role own you - You don’t have to sacrifice your personal life to succeed in your career. Take care of yourself so you can do your best work.
Care deeply about others; care less about the outcome - In this Advancing Talent podcast, MBS issues the challenge to hold the relationship with your clients and team members in a paradox of caring deeply while being disconnected from their outcomes. Give people the responsibility for their own freedom.
Steward your talents & influence wisely - Invest them in good soil where they can be properly cultivated and bear abundant fruit. Casting good seed onto hard soil is an unproductive use of your efforts and gifts.
Find places where you are valued & celebrated - Do not stay in places where you are unwelcome or barely tolerated. Take the time to plan your exit if you must, but don't stay in an unhealthy place too long."Surviving is important; Thriving is elegant" - Maya Angelou
Guard your heart in order to live whole-heartedly - Don't allow hurt feelings to grow into a root of bitterness or develop a hardened heart of offense. Acknowledge the hurt and take measures to deal with the source so that you can be free.
Protect your peace - This may require the discernment and courage to distance yourself from people, places or situations that rob you from peace of mind, soul & spirit. This will also require your intentional practice of activities that promote and preserve your peace.
Be flexible with your plans - There are no perfect plans or perfect times to execute them. Do your best to plan well & execute strong while maintaining a mindset to iterate, improve & course-correct over time.
Which one of these lessons resonate most with you? What lessons from your 2024 experience are you bringing into the New Year?
Wishing you God's abundant blessings, peace and prosperity throughout this new year!
Regina
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