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better outcome? What skills were you lacking? Where do you need additional expertise or
experience? Take your learning and put it into practice the next time. Add the learning to your
development plan. How can you continue to build on it? Use your experience to help drive your future
growth. Watch out for the “haven’t the time” trap. There’s always something that seems more
important than reflection. But check yourself. Don’t rush to the next task. Plan to reflect.

11. Need support? Show others you take your development seriously. State your development
needs and ask for their help. Research shows that people are much more likely to help and give the
benefit of the doubt to those who admit their shortcomings and try to do something about them. They
know it takes courage. Don’t stop at asking for feedback. Ask people for their help in your
development. Can they act as a coach? Can they teach you a new skill? Can they be a springboard
for new ideas? Utilize the people around you to help in your development.

12. Frustrated by lack of progress? Understand that development takes time. Development doesn’t
happen overnight. It takes time to make changes that are noticeable, sustainable, and position you
well for future success. Just like there is no “easy” button to prepare for a marathon, plan a significant
event, or write a book, there are no shortcuts for your own growth. Research suggests that deliberate
and sustained practice is necessary to really hone a skill to make it a strength. Malcolm Gladwell, in
Outliers: The Story of Success, reports that people need to practice something for 10,000 hours
before they master the skill. It can be a long haul. Set your goals. Work your plan. Celebrate small
wins along the way.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…
Capture Your Flag. (2013, June 14). Learning to reflect more and get to know yourself better
[YouTube].
Petriglieri, G. (2013, February 6). Getting stuck can help you grow. Harvard Business Review Blog
Network.
Tjan, A. K. (2012, July 19). How leaders become self-aware. Harvard Business Review Blog
Network.
Zenger, J. (2013, August 29). Personal development isn’t personal: 3 Tips for getting your manager
involved. Forbes.

Job assignments
• Take on a task that you have never tried, dislike or hate to do, and is outside of your domain. Stick to it
and focus on the learning you’re deriving from it.
• Teach/coach someone how to do something you’re an expert in. Invite them to tap into your knowledge
and the lessons you took from your experiences.
• Attend a course or event which will push you personally beyond your usual limits or outside your
comfort zone.
• Find and spend time with an expert to learn something in an area new to you, in either a work or non-
work setting.

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