Tag: self-improvement

Stretching further

FabrizioLeave a comment

If you are not making mistakes (i.e., missing a deadline, delivering a project that is not ready, failing to achieve your goals, being rejected for a role you care about), one of two things is true.

Either you are covering up your mistakes or you are not stretching further enough.

The point is not being flawless.

The point is using mistakes to do three things.

  1. Prepare a space to grow into. A mistake tells where you cannot go yet. It is space to fill up, a beacon pointed in the direction of growth.
  2. Build more resilient relationships. A mistake tells you are a fearless peer. I am sorry unlocks deep empathy and fortifies the ground beneath you and those you care about.
  3. Add to your story. A mistake tells you are not done yet. When you put it into words, it becomes an inspiration and a model.

Companions

FabrizioLeave a comment

After one year (and counting) dealing with social distancing, isolation, uncertainty, fear of sickness and death, confinment, lack of freedom, impossibility to meet family and friends, video-conferencing, constant worrying.

We are all exhausted.

So if you are too, that is fine.

If you struggle to find motivation, if you do not want to get started, if you would rather call in sick, if you start thinking it’s not worth it.

You are not alone.

Reach out to somebody today. Tell them about how you feel. Listen as they tell you how they feel. And find a companion.

We all need that now.

Dull and easy

Fabrizio1 Comment

The stigma around topics such as failure, ignorance, inexperience makes us hide the very same seed that would allow us to grow. We do not ask the question, we do not show the weakness, we do not seek guidance. Eventually we end up being the same, if not diminished.

We are more silent when we should be more vocal.

And on the other hand, we are met with silence when we should be cheered loudly.

How often do you share just to meet an embarrassed withdraw? How often do you ask just to meet an awkward silence? How often do you open up just to meet shameful rejection?

Everything is dull and easy on the surface.

It is when you go deep, and allow the others to go deep, that things start getting interesting.

The best self-promotion tool

Fabrizio1 Comment

If you are starting in a new role, make it your first priority to talk to people who work close to you.

Your direct reports, their reports, your peers, those you will collaborate with in adjacent teams, your manager, their manager.

There is no rule for where you should stop, just do it with common sense.

And while the instict would probably push you to use the conversations to promote yourself, your background, your agenda, make it so instead that you will mainly listen. Understand who you are talking to, what motivates them, how they get measured, what success means to them.

If you do that effectively, you can’t fail. You will deliver exactly what they need, and they will be the ones promoting you and your agenda when that is needed.

Listening is the best self-promotion tool.

Looking the best

FabrizioLeave a comment

The energy we invest in looking good is in a negative relationship with our ability to actually be good.

Looking the best. Being the best.

The earlier you realize which one matters, the earlier you will be gifted with time and resources to go do what you care about.