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Field Nurse
Guest
Consider your own self-development and leadership plan for the next few months. Are your accomplishments enough to keep you going? Do you believe you are prepared to serve your clients? And, are you adequately prepared with the information you will need to face the upcoming challenges? Here are a few ways to get there.
1.) Make it easy to get new information in.
Watching a TED talk or PopTech talk each day (7-23 minutes in length) is a great way to get started. Learning about what’s happening “out in the world” will better prepare you to engage with people in conversation, get to know what’s important to them, and be someone they trust for years to come. Complement your “world news” diet with these inspiring talks.
2.) Reach out and meet the people you can learn from in your community.
Want to meet someone? Reach out, call or write them a letter and ask for the introduction. Whenever I read a book, hear someone speaking on the radio, or am told about someone doing something incredible, I look them up, and invite them to meet over coffee. So what that not every person says yes...it works and I’ve met some amazing people!
3.) Pick up the phone and write a card to reach out and touch someone!
When I taught high school from 1995-2000, I called five students a day...every day. I talked with them—as well as their parents—sharing my enthusiasm for my “product,” and “sold” them on returning the next day engaged, prepared and ready to participate. Today, I send a minimum of one note card a day sharing my gratitude or acknowledgment for things people are doing. Who can you call or write today?
4.) Spend time sharing with a “listener.”
Share your goals, roles, plans and challenges with someone who will listen, accept and help you create new solutions for implementing your ideas. Sometimes just hearing yourself talk will inspire you to action!
How are you planning to learn and grow yourself and your relationships? Let us know in the comments.
Jason Womack travels the world teaching people and their companies about workplace effectiveness and productivity. He is a small business entrepreneur, a former teacher, a busy business traveler, and an active triathlete. He can be reached at 805-640-6401 and by email at [email protected].