Learning Curve
My client Alice was recently hired as the executive director at a mid-sized nonprofit. She loves the mission. She loves the challenge. But she says she sees a flurry of red flags that suggest the organization isn’t functioning.
A part of her knows that her present position doesn’t set her up for future success.
Another part of Alice says she should know how to save the organization. When confronted with a thorny new problem, that very scared part shouts, “You should know how to handle this!” That fear can almost strangle her, cut off her breathing.
Why do we have parts burdened with the belief that we are expected to know everything?
Yes, there’s a certain measure of cultural “godliness” attached to people who do things with ease from day one.
Maybe the idea of Calvinist predestination—that all skills, knowledge, and competence have to be there from the start.
I do know that I’ve always been frustrated with myself around my not-so-innate capacities.
Creative thinking and problem solving come easily to me, but I’ve always thought I should have been born knowing how to craft a seamless agenda; manage my time and workload; and develop a strategic plan.
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But all of these took learning.
Another client, Chris, won’t apply for positions if the job description includes even one thing he’s not an expert at.
He doesn’t think “I can learn to do that” or “maybe we can outsource that because there is so much I bring to the table.”
No, he actually won’t apply.
Becoming comfortable with not knowing is the first step toward learning, which in turn is the first step to growth and excellence.
Having colleagues and allies to bounce ideas off—and test out your decisions on—is essential. Not knowing can be exciting. Being willing to do new things imperfectly is also part of learning. And having people around you, on your side, can help make the learning curve less swirly.
With our partnership, Alice is talking to that very scared part of her that thinks she should be able to do things all alone and perfectly. And Chris has landed an excellent job! The company was so eager to hire him that is indeed outsourcing the work he wasn’t suited to take on.
Nearly all of us have a persistent sense that we may have missed a memo somewhere—one that we’re absolutely sure everyone else got. What’s your missed memo?
Let’s work together to treat imperfections and inexperience with compassion and curiosity—and start learning again.
P.S. Are you interested in diving deep and learning about the different parts of you? Click here to sign up for a 90 Minute Breakthrough Session.
