Reflecting On The Road To Success
How to be better at everything you do
Almost thirty years ago (tempus fugit, or how time flies in plain English) I found myself back at university for a second stint of studies.
For two years, full time, I studied the whole process of human learning processes and behaviours. Behaviourism, Neo behaviourism, Cognitivism, etc, etc. And probably one of the most valuable lessons I learned was how to be what is called a Reflective Practitioner. What is that exactly? I hear you say. It’s quite simple really.
It means at the end of any given activity, or session of activities, you take the time to sit back and reflect on what you have done. What you did well and what not so well. It’s about analysing your performance for the purpose of identifying strengths and weaknesses.
We all have them, though some don’t like to admit it. One student failed the entire course because in their final thesis they point blank refused to acknowledge that they had any faults whatsoever. And that is the biggest fault of all, to fail to accept or recognise or acknowledge that you have any faults. That is what you might call a first class fail.
Once you have identified your faults (by the way I have many, but I’m working on them) then you set about devising a plan to reduce and ultimately eliminate those faults. The objective is to improve your performance, in whatever activity you choose, in order to become better at whatever it is you do.
Of course, self knowledge is really important here, as is total honesty with yourself. There is no point at all in trying to pull the wool over your own eyes.
At times like these it is of utmost importance to sit back and reflect. To grow as a professional practitioner as well as to grow as a person. This can help you to improve the salary, conditions and promotion prospects in your present job, or indeed to get a better job. If due to the Covid 19, or for whatever reason you find yourself out of work, it can help to improve your prospects in your job search.
Having said that, this should not be a process that you turn to only when the going gets difficult. It is a process that you should practice as a matter of habit in a constant striving to get better at everything you do.
You could even use the process to try to be a better life partner, a better dad, a better friend, a better member of the community or human race. In other words, you could and you should try to become a reflective practitioner of life. There is no downside to any of this, no cost apart from investing a little time and mental energy.
The very fact of carrying out this process of deep reflection indeed will not only better arm you to move forward in your career and in your personal life, but the results will show others that you have a healthy attitude towards your own personal growth and development. And if you can do that for yourself, imagine what you can do for others.
In other words, try not only to be inspired, but also to be inspiring. If you can do that then you will find yourself well on the road to success in all spheres of your life.
And finally, to prove that I do actually practice what I preach, four examples where I have applied this process to overcome less than favourable performances.
About fifteen years ago I took up ocean kayaking. I was absolutely useless at it at the start. That is not good. It could cost you your life. So every day for three months I went out for a three hour session of trying to get it right. At the end of each session I sat back and thought about what I was doing wrong and what, if anything, right. After three months of addressing the problems I had become so good at it the sailing school asked me teach others how to do it.
Ten years ago I found myself having to up the ante as a performing artist. I was good, but not good enough. Again I applied myself to the problem of how to get better. It took a lot of hard work I can tell you. The upside was I not only got demonstrably better, I also enjoyed a massively increased demand for my services.
Just over a year ago I re-took up writing . And I got an awful lot wrong I can tell you. As a result my articles were not being published and I became very, very frustrated. So I spent a long time reading other peoples articles and speaking with one or two fellow writers. Then I sat down and revised all of fifty something articles to bring them into line with what was expected of me as a writer. What’s more I incorporated all that I had learned into my new articles. Now my articles are being published and I'm doing quite well compared to how I was at the beginning. That is what I call a great result.
And lastly,I have two failed marriages behind me which cost me very dear, not only economically, but also personally. At the end of the second I simply gave up. However, five years ago I met somebody who I felt was worth the effort. By this time I had put myself through the mill, asking myself what I had contributed to those first two failed marriages. And I decided that if I ever got another chance I would try to be a better partner. I’m not perfect, not by a long chalk, but I’m getting there. So far so good, I am happily remarried and have high hopes that this time I can get it right, at least in terms of my input.
Hope springs eternal as they say. And self-improvement and personal growth will always pay dividends in the end.
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