Learning how to win is an iterative process, and it almost always includes losing.
The months of April through June are a wonderful time for sports fans because two of the major North American leagues are engaged in their playoffs to determine their champions and the Champions League winner will be decided in Europe. Whether you prefer football, hockey or basketball, the challenges and outcomes are similar. One team and its players are going to prevail and everyone else is going to be disappointed but have an opportunity to learn.
There will be some breaks and luck that influence the results, and whether you see them as having gone for or against your team, is probably related to whether or not your team won. This applies to business as well.
Win or lose, there is an opportunity to learn what can be done better or differently in order to win. Ask coaches and most agree that winning is based on gaining experience and is an iterative process that includes disappointment, resiliency, practice, commitment, patience, and most importantly, a willingness to learn.
Which leads to the question: “Can an executive go through career transition and be better for it, can an individual gain insights and knowledge and improve?”
Improving one’s performance at the office is similar to improving one’s performance on the ice, on the pitch or on the court as everyone can learn from experience. Players and coaches who are on the losing teams need to consider what or how they need to change. Sometimes minor tweaking is sufficient, at other times, bigger changes are necessary. Teams and individuals committed to winning look to learn and my research shows there is an opportunity for my clients to improve their offerings and realize their potential through the process we follow.
One hundred and fifty executives who I have worked with during their transitions, were asked: “Reflecting on your experience with Career Transition”, did it help to make you: 1) a better leader (75% agreed); 2) a better communicator (75% agreed); and 3) a more compassionate executive (73% agreed).
This is a group of people who have had the experience of loss who have taken learning from their situations and applied it as they moved forward.
Let’s return to learning to win. 78% of respondents felt they were “A more effective executive” for the transition experience, and I would hazard they feel more prepared and ready to help their new teams, or businesses, win.