We want to feel competent in our lives. We want to feel like we know what we’re doing, and we’re good at it. Whether it’s work, teaching, relationships or just the inevitable difficulties that arise in life.
However, choosing conscious incompetence is the best learning opportunity we’ve got.
Peter Shaw and Hilary Douglas (The Reluctant Leader) point out when managers who feel competent in any specific area of responsibility (say HR, Finance or Sales) move to a general leadership role, they tend to want to focus on their area of competency and make that old competency their primary contribution to their organization. They want to play to their area of expertise.
But they want to do this, not because it’s the most important thing for the organization, but because it’s where they feel the most competent. It’s not what’s best for the organization, it’s what’s safest (emotionally) for them.
If we want to grow, we need to intentionally step into areas of difficulty. Taking on tasks we know we’re going to struggle with.
But failing repeatedly isn’t a virtue in and of itself.
We need thoughtful evolution so we can learn in the midst of these times of learning. We need to step back from our work on a regular schedule and ask yourself: How’s its going, what should have been done differently, what am I learning, and what to do next. Also: Who could I talk to about this challenge, what do I need to read, what skillset do I need to acquire? What are my assumptions that might be wrong?
The beauty of of challenge is that it expands your competency but not by assuring you that you’re great at what you’re doing, but by giving you a realistic understanding of what your strengths and competencies really are, and reminding you that you’re in process.
If you’ve decided that you’ve figured life out, then odds are you’re really living your life, you’re just trying to manage it.
Application: Look back through your journals or notes from two years ago. Are you dealing with the same problems or new ones? Old goals? New skills? How are you growing?