Continuous learning

• Continuous learning is essential today. This is partly about keeping up with new trends but it is also about becoming more effective personally. This is much harder to do because we tend not to like admitting that we need to improve in this regard. This is because we are so used to getting criticized that we have become overly defensive. This helps us preserve our self esteem but it can innoculate us from learning from our mistakes.
• How well do you learn from mistakes? - not letting your need to prove yourself lead you to blame others for errors.
• A well known Harvard Business Review article showed that many people working in large organizations fail to learn from their mistakes because they always feel that someone or something else is to blame.
• To overcome this defensive posture it helps to take risks, even small ones, but manage the expectations of your stakeholders so everyone agrees it is better to try and make a mistake than do nothing at all. Also, you can foster a culture where learning by doing is celebrated.
• Learn by trial and error, avoid excessive analysis.
• Take lots of small steps for quick wins.
• Spread ownership for larger risks.
• Set up regular feedback processes to learn and adjust quickly.
• Invite feedback from multiple sources using various means.
• Find a learning partner, someone who also wants to learn on the job and with whom you can discuss progress. You can also help to keep each other moving.
• If you are not continuously learning these days when all around us is changing, you will be falling behind.
• Try pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. Expose your self to unfamiliar territory. Try to do your regular work in a completely different way. If you can't think of one ask newcomers to question everything you do (within reason!)

Measurement

• Set targets, milestones and timeframes for each success criterion.
• The more you measure the more accurate will be your feedback.
• Celebrate success regularly. Don't focus only on setbacks. Always ask yourself what went well in addition to what did not.