You may not think personal development has much of a place in business, but if you want next level growth, you need to think again.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a string of high level executives come out as promoters of wellness. LinkedIn is full of articles and interviews where meditation, healthy diets, appropriate sleep habits and other personal wellness practices are credited with helping executives improve personally and professionally.
While you might find it interesting that Marc Benioff and Arianna Huffington credit improved business outcomes with meditating and getting enough sleep, actually talking about personal development themes, and dare I say emotions, on company time may still make you feel a bit squeamish.
I get it. But it’s time to get over it.
Personal development is the secret weapon in today’s boardroom. Associates who are on a path of personal development help make businesses more efficient, productive and overall better places to work. How? When people are conscious and self-aware, they don’t take things personally and are more likely to be collaborative and open than come to the table with negative, defensive attitudes that can stonewall projects. They’re good communicators, they aren’t afraid to bring up potential challenges and they can adapt to different personality types because the better you understand yourself, the better you understand others.
Additionally, how many times have you heard someone say, “The manager that meant the most to me was a complete a*^#&%@. He was short-tempered, demanding, and treated everyone he managed with disrespect and contempt. It was incredibly motivating and inspiring.”
Never. You have never heard anyone say that.
Many professionals today feel like something’s missing even though all the boxes are checked. One of the biggest boxes is professional development. They have a bachelors, MBA, certifications, credentials, attend seminars, etc. Even with all that knowledge, something still seems off. They know there’s something they haven’t addressed, maybe even flat out denied, but can’t figure out what it is. Sound familiar?
As you learn more about yourself and how you work, things start to change. Your viewpoint is expanded, you understand things that didn’t make sense before, you feel more content, and you engage with others in a deeper, more connected way. That’s just as good for business relationships as it is personal ones.
We’re a society of intelligent people with intelligent tools. Purchasing software and new technology is easy, but competitors are buying the same things. People are the competitive advantage. People bring the creative ideas, openness to change, flexibility and commitment to clients.
This isn’t new information, we’ve known this for a long time. So, how are we doing cultivating our competitive advantage? I believe we have a lot more work to do.
For the executives, managers, and business owners reading this, give your associates opportunities to grow personally. Offer on site personal development seminars, host meditation sessions, or purchase books for your staff that support self-improvement. There are many ways for companies to make supporting personal growth part of the culture. If you do, you will find yourself with a team that’s innovative, collaborative, optimistic and loyal.
As for individuals, don’t sell yourself short. Step up. Seek out opportunities to learn. Grow in different ways and live up to your potential. Go deeper with guided meditations or spend time in nature where you will always find an overwhelming amount of ideas and resolutions. Until you accept this challenge, you won’t find what you’re looking for.