Open

I was sitting with a group of community leaders talking about some best practices for leading well and helping move groups and teams forward in healthy and effective ways. One of the topics that came up in the room was the importance of being Open. As we explored that dynamic, there were three critical elements that really stood out to me and that everyone resonated with as they emerged.

Open to Learn

There was a lot of conversation around the critical element of being Open to learn and grow. We might think of this as a growth mindset or having a beginner's mind, but regardless of what it's called, everyone in the room felt it was absolutely essential to progress. During this discussion, there was universal agreement that the opposite of being Open to learning needed to be avoided as much as possible. Here we named things like being closed to growth, or thinking you already know everything about something. We talked about the danger of being totally certain and unwilling to listen and learn from others as a true killer of growth and progress. Conclusion, we must be Open to Learn!

Open to Share

Another facet of being Open that emerged was a direct partner to the first, namely that we must be willing to be Open to Share what we know with others. We talked about the importance of not hoarding our knowledge or insights but holding a spirit of generosity toward others. Several people mentioned the impact various teachers had on their lives when they were younger, and how their encouragement sparked a desire in them to help others. They were using the experience of others being Open to Share with them as fuel for them to be Open to Share their knowledge and wisdom too. Ripple effects of impact that may continue for generations to come! Conclusion, being Open to Share is vital to the world moving forward!

Open to Fail

One final element that arose in our discussion was the importance of being Open to Fail. Several individuals shared stories that some of the greatest learning in their lives came from some of their greatest failures. What appeared to be failure turned out to be a spark plug for great growth and movement. As these stories were shared, someone pointed out how important it is for leaders to be Open to failure in others (and themselves), and to not be too reactive when it happens (because it will!). We discussed helping people see the value of the learning that's possible when failure happens. Conclusion, when we can be Open to failure, we can reinforce the beauty of our shared humanity and continue to learn and grow together.

How do these three areas of Openness resonate with you? Is there one that's easier for you than another? Can you remember a significant person who made an investment in your life by being Open to share with you, and what ongoing impact has that had in your life and in the world? When was the last time you encountered a failure and what did you learn from it? Do you have other ideas about the impact of being Open in other ways?

Here's to being Open - to learn, to share, and to fail this week!

Be Well,

Stephen

Center was created to support individuals and teams so they can live from their Purposeful Center. We specialize in professional coaching and leadership development and we'd love to support you! Click on our Services page to book a free consultation.