Self Examination… No, Not That Kind
- Post By: Greg Crumpton
- Date:
- Category: Blog
Yes, self exams are definitely healthy, whether it be physical or mental, both can be essential for good health and prosperity. Specifically, taking inventory of your situation … work, relationship with someone, self awareness or whatever is, could, should, perhaps are all part of personal growth. Equally as important, in my mind, is to “raise the kimono” to others, let them see how you think, work, play and plan your future. A glimpse or two by trusted allies can be worth … well, everything.
Have you ever been through an audit? Have you ever had any sort of group that came into your company or team specifically to evaluate it? It can be pretty scary, more so if it’s your first time. You work so hard to keep your ducks in a row, your team all pulling the same direction and your financial house in order, then POOF! The seagulls come in and completely blow it up. Seagull: def: / noun / One who flies into your world, eats your food, poops on you and then flies back to their own nest.
As crazy as that may sound, it can be some of the most in-depth and non-biased help that you, your company, your non-profit or any other group you are a part of, can receive.
People who commit to helping you get better at whatever it is you do deserve a great big “atta-boy”. In this age of digital everything, having someone sit down and really dig into what you do and comment in a helpful way, or suggest some tweaking, is a true God-send.
Think about it, we all work very close-to-the-vest in our small circles. Yes, we share some overall benign, dull and gray information with our local industry groups or Chambers of Commerce, but you work very hard to keep a strong facade showing. It’s kind of our personal shield.
What types of things are talked about in these private settings? Maybe your way of selling is different (and hopefully better) than the norm. Maybe the way you order your supplies is unique, or whatever you do in the daily grind looks different than all the others. Perhaps they don’t get the relationship you have with Mary at XYZ, Inc. Maybe your loyalty to a particular brand is foreign to them.
So you dive in, together. They ask, you answer. Then you chew on it together. They may see that you are paying more than you have to for this, they may see a quicker way of getting that proposal out the door, they may see the lead person on your technical team has so much more potential than you originally noticed… Yes, that type of information and more will surface from this sort of analysis.
These rudimentary questions and observations are the spark for discussion. You know you pay more for that thing, or this service and you reason for doing so is that… you’re loyal to Mary because she always takes care of you in a crunch. Then… holy crap, you never knew there was another, quicker way to get the proposal done. So in an afternoon of self examination, in confidence with others, you have allowed yourself to be better.
Guess what, it also made the reviewer better as well. They went home with ten things they can tweak to make their life, job, team, group or whatever better.
The bottom line comes down to this: Open up, sit down and talk. Do not try to live in a vacuum, one without good folks around you. The “scarcity mentality” is a sure way to bottom out and get stuck in a rut that is hard to climb out of.
If someone has ever been kind enough to do this for you, do not forget it. Go find someone who may need it and have that conversation. Everyone will walk away better for the effort.
