 |
 As part of a corporate change management process, I recently facilitated an
exercise designed to enable a work team to learn more about the skills and daily
tasks of its fellow associates. This team, who had professed a strong desire to
change the way in which it interacts with one another, reacted to the exercise
with hesitation, frustration, and defensiveness. They were, in reality,
uncomfortable with the process of learning something new in order to accomplish
the change goal.
As so often happens, I found a converse reaction to learning and change from a
group of elementary school children last week. When working on an art project,
the children were given "glue dots" to use instead of the more familiar bottle
of glue or glue stick. While the parents immediately began questioning, "How do
we use these?" "Why are we using these?" and "Where are the glue sticks?", the
children didn't flinch. They took the glue dots, explored them, figured it out
and moved on with the project.
I often wonder what is the catalyst for our adult aversion to learning. At what
age do many of us lose the spirit to move outside the box, to explore, and to
create from the unfamiliar? Motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, shares two quotes
about this subject that I appreciate. One is a version of a familiar saying:
"Unless you change how you are, you will always have what you've got." If we are
seeking a change in our lives, it isn't likely to come without some stretching
into unfamiliar territory.
And again from Rohn, "You must either modify your dreams or magnify your
skills." If we are dissatisfied with the direction in which our lives are going,
we must be open to learning how to use a compass or looking at an updated map.
Coaching Challenges and Inquiries: When is the last time you moved outside the
box? If you read journals or books about topics in your field, great! Now, read
about some topics outside your field. What can you learn by moving outside the
box? How can you get better at something this year?
To reply to this Pathway, use our
Feedback Form. To learn more about our
Creativity Coaching Programs and to
arrange for a complementary Creativity coaching session, use our
Contact Form or
Email Erika.
May you be filled with goodness, peace, and joy.
Erika Jackson
(Erika@LifeTrekCoaching.com)
LifeTrek Coaching International
Columbus, OH
U.S.A.
Telephone: 614-565-9953
Fax: 208-977-7793
Subscribe/Unsubscribe: (Click)
Correspondence: (Click)
Web: (Click)
Mobile:
(Click)
» Top
» Go to Provision Archive
» Go to Wellness Pathway Archive
» Go to Creativity Pathway Archive
» Go to Career Pathway Archive
» Go to Leadership Pathway Archive
» Go to Resilience Pathway Archive
» Go to OD Pathway Archive
» Go to Parenting Pathway Archive
» Go to Webcast Intro
» Go to Webcam (Watch the Birds!)
» Reply to this Article
» Go to Coaching Chat Room |