1.2.3 New Perspectives for Self-Improvement

How open are you to candid feedback, new perspectives, continuous learning, and self-development?

🤝 Candid Feedback

Emotional intelligence involves honest self-reflection and actually learning from your mistakes.

First, you’ve got to be open to feedback. Most of us instinctively treat it like an attack or as though someone’s picking on us. But what if, instead of getting defensive, you saw feedback as a chance to talk about your favourite subject… you? (Because, let’s be real, we all love that.)

“Feedback is the breakfast food of champions!”

Here’s the tricky part: We’re wired to believe our own opinions are the right ones. That’s not new. In fact, it’s been true since cavemen argued over who got the best spot by the fire. But that stubborn self-importance keeps us stuck in one mindset, and that’s a problem. It limits us in relationships, at work, and even in how we see ourselves.

Positive Actions When Receiving Feedback

Feedback comes in all shapes and sizes but how can we ensure that we get the most from it?

1. Actively listen – don’t think about what you’re going to say in reply, don’t interrupt, argue, or defend yourself. Do take notice of the non-verbal communication and what is not being said.
2. Clarify – ask for clarification if you don’t understand.
3. Thank the person for providing feedback.
4. Decide if and how the feedback applies to you. You always have a choice. Not all feedback is valid, so you need to critically analyse it and decide whether or not you are going to act on it.
   Avoid bringing in emotions of good vs bad, positive vs negative.

To get the most out of feedback, you need to be prepared to receive it. A common obstacle is that we too often view feedback as negative, criticism, or even a personal attack. Rather, consider embracing feedback as time to talk about yourself! See it as an opportunity for everything to be about you- in other words, view feedback from a new perspective…

New Perspectives 👓

“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”
Bertrand Russell

You might think the biggest hurdle to seeing things differently is not knowing enough. But in a world where Google has answers to everything, ignorance isn’t the issue. The real roadblock? Our own emotions. We don’t want to question what we believe. Facing uncertainty feels like stepping into the unknown, and who volunteers for that? And realising we might’ve been completely wrong about something we cared about? That stings. But growth starts when we focus on being well-informed, not just stubborn.

The bottom line? Growth starts when we stop defending our ego and start getting curious. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Especially if it’s uncomfortable.

📈 Self-Development

“The only thing that is constant is change.”
Heraclitus

Fact: If you are stationary, you are actually going backwards as the world is ever evolving.

This is why it is so important to prioritise self-development. Staying as you once were is a sure recipe for disaster because everything and everybody around you is morphing.

Kaizen is a Japanese concept of making small improvements daily which leads to huge life changes for the better. Kai means change, zen means good. Often used in corporate environments, it is an excellent practice to apply in your personal life too. As with most things, a slow and steady approach is better than trying to make sweeping changes occasionally.

Don’t get lackadaisical as you age. Commit now to a lifetime of continuous improvement and learning…

Continuous Learning 📖

Self-development and personal growth go hand in hand with lifelong learning.

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
Anthony J. D’Angelo

The most successful people in the world make learning a top priority and are obsessed with absorbing more and more knowledge – either to help them both master their craft and grow personally.

Continuous learning is a vital aspect of acquiring critical thinking skills and discovering new perspectives when relating to people from different cultures.

LinkedIn shares seven career-related reasons why continuous learning is important:

“1. Remain Relevant
Don’t be left behind. Ensure you remain relevant to your industry by keeping up to date with trends and adapting your skill set. To function effectively amongst this rapidly changing world of technology, you need to learn new things to remain valuable.

2. Prepare for the Unexpected
Lifelong learning will help you adapt to unexpected changes, for example, losing your job and having to depend on new skills to find work. By continuing to learn, you’ll more easily step out of your comfort zone and take on new job opportunities.

3. Boost you Profile
When you’re always learning, you’ll keep improving and grow in your career and start to receive recommendations from colleagues and managers. The chances are that you’ll switch jobs multiple times throughout your life and you need to learn new skills to adapt accordingly.

4. Competence Leads to Confidence
Learning new things gives us a feeling of accomplishment, which in turn boosts our confidence in our own capabilities. Also, you’ll feel more ready to take on challenges and explore new business ventures.

5. Sparks New Ideas
Acquiring new skills will unveil new opportunities and help you find innovative solutions to problems. This could make you more money.

6. Change Your Perspective
Continuous learning opens your mind and changes your attitude by building on what you already know. The more you learn, the better you’ll get at seeing more sides of the same situation, helping you understand more deeply.

7. Pay it Forward
Continuous learning isn’t just about you. Lifelong learning helps develop your leadership skills which then translates into fostering lifelong learning in other individuals, by encouraging them to pursue further education.”

With information at our fingertips, there is no excuse to stop learning. But lifelong learning isn’t only done formally such as training programs or online seminars. Look out for daily actions to improve (kaizen) your knowledge and skills:

• Ask for help when you do not understand something.
• Observe those more experienced in a skill.
• Try new ways of doing things and explore alternative methods
• Practise what you have already learned.

➡️ Next

Wrap this lesson up by reflecting on what you have just completed. Then ✏️ answer the introspective questions in the quiz below to help you apply what you have learned to your life.