Tweet

What’s Your Current Edge for Development?

Written by: Ian Cook

Article Overview: This article challenges you with a single question: What is the one skill area—at this point in your career—where improving your competency will have the greatest impact on your overall effectiveness in your job? Your response will guide your continuous development this year.

What’s Your Current Edge for Development?

They had a momentary pause of puzzlement when I asked them. So, I put the question to my audience again,

What is your current edge for development?

“What do you mean?” they ask. “I mean” I say, “if you could snap your fingers and instantly improve significantly in one aspect of your work that would have the greatest leverage on your overall effectiveness, what would it be?” “Oh” say their faces as they proceed to ponder the query.

For many people this is a difficult question. For some, absolutely nothing comes to mind! Managers in my sessions have a variety of responses...

• think more strategical–vs. responding to “crises” all the time
• be able to confront a poor performer without my own legs turning to jelly
• lead meetings that are satisfying and accomplish a great deal
• organize my desk and deploy myself according to my priorities.

Try out the question right now. Come on now, What is your current edge for development?

This is a vitally important question for each of us to ask ourselves regularly. It is the driver that keeps us continually learning. And when you have your answer, I have a follow-up question for you,

“What do you intend to do over the next twelve months to develop this ability?”

As a professional speaker, my current edge is to build more stories into my presentations. I’ve avoided them because, I imagine, it will be difficult. I don’t notice stories. I don’t remember stories. I don’t even like stories in other people’s presentations. Yet I know they will add more to the overall impact of my message than anything else I could do.

How can you identify your current edge? Ask people-your boss, your peers, your staff, your customers... your significant other! Consult your last performance review. Or, consider your vision for yourself in, say, two years’ time. What knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes are missing that would make that vision a reality?

Then, develop and implement a plan to acquire these attributes. When you have succeeded, return to the question. A new edge for development will emerge, returning you to being a (beginner) learner.

This is what “continual learning” means.

And I believe it is the only way we can survive in this crazy, convulsive world.

Managers, professionals, and knowledge workers must master a complex weave of competencies Author George Leonard calls mastery, “the mysterious process during which what is at first difficult becomes progressively easier and more pleasurable through practice.” Notice that mastery is a process, not a destination. We must never cease.

Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, was a consummate “master.” But when he died he asked to be buried with a white belt on.

Related Articles
  Powerful Relationship Selling
  On the Cutting Edge of Time - Part 1
  Sales Training for the Fiery Edge on your Competitors
  For Good SEO You Must Go Back To Basics
  A Life Worth Living

Article Tags: competency, continuous development, development, employee development, leadership development
Referred by: http://upwardaction.com



Related Forum Posts
Re: what position to request? - Hi Michael, Great suggestion from David, or you could try something around a design consultancy, How about Website Design Consultant, Design and Development Manager, Website Support and Development Manager or maybe Internet Business Development Consultant. Ultimately whatever you are comfortable with and good luck for the future, Mal.
Re: Hello from a San Diego-based marketer - Welcome Aaron! Whats the next stage for your business? Ben
Re: New, young entrepreneur - Congrats H20ismyLife! Do you have a website so we can see any of your work? Whats the next step for you?
Is It Me? - It's just that the 'Current Leaders' board on my computer shows 'March Posts' still, and we're in April now. Is it only me? Best regards
BDC - [quote="IWDCanada":jib6tqt9]I think if you try to do business in the Maritimes the Business Development Bank of Canada might be able to provide grants.[/quote:jib6tqt9] On that note, does anybody have any experiences with the Business Development Bank of Canada that they would like to share? I have been considering approaching them for a business loan.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

What is Discretionary Cash Flow

Basic Operating Question (BOQ) for Empowerment

E Mail Marketing Campaigns

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.