What’s Your Current Edge for Development?
What’s Your Current Edge for Development?
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...
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.
Whats Your Current Edge for Development - To learn more about this author, visit Ian Cook's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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.
Whats Your Current Edge for Development - To learn more about this author, visit Ian Cook's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
|||
Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
|||
John PowerJohn Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Ian's articles
 |
|
Build Best Bosses - Musings about Leadership from Ian Cook.
|
|
 |
 | |
|
| |
Referred by: http://upwardaction.com
 | ||
|
||
 |
||
|
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
 |
 Branding The Product Entrepreneur Flight Manual Find & Keep Profitable Clients Addictive Entrepreneurship The Small Picture |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Blogs For Startups
Top Blogs To Watch In 2009 | |
 |
More PR Resources
Press Release Builder | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
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 and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||