David* was one of the most skilled tradesmen I’ve ever known. A lovely person deeply respected and involved in his local community. Also a perfectionist.
One day at work I started to talk about maintenance costs and he stopped me. “Not my job to worry about cost” he said, “that’s management’s problem”. David just wasn’t interested in the cost of his own work, so he never learnt to manage it. He set up a barrier between him and his financial impact.
Nobody stopped him, he stopped himself.
Learning something new can be easy, but only once you set your mind on that something. If you shut your mind you’ll never learn it.
We talked in week 2 about being open to new or different ideas. Now you’re at work, learning your job.
Soon you discover that some things aren’t open to you. Maybe many things.
What do you do?
We’re not talking about things you’re prohibited from doing. We’re talking about the small things that are just “not your job”, or “that’s just how we do things here”.
Those little things that you’re not sure you can touch. Off Limits.
Your Limits.
You can’t learn about things that you can’t see or touch.
Of course every organization has to organize. People have to do their own jobs, not hunt around doing others’, but there are always grey areas between jobs and teams. Or knowledge that will help you do your core job.
Like how much things cost.
Most of these grey areas aren’t decided by the organization, they’re just neglected or self limited by individuals who don’t want to encroach on others, or are afraid to. Or hope someone else will.
There’s a lot for you to learn by extending your limits. By challenging where your boundaries are.
Seeking knowledge without waiting for permission is an important trait for leadership. Not just being curious but actively looking out for opportunities to learn something new.
This doesn’t have to be a selfish game. Reaching out to support a co-worker helps them, and the whole team, whilst growing your knowledge and experience.
You don’t need to break rules or cause chaos either. Most boundaries are set by habit not regulations.
A lot of learning happens in the first days or weeks of a new job, but often slows down or stops then pattern repetition takes over.
Stretching your boundaries doesn’t just find new things to learn, it challenges existing thinking and keeps you fresh in your core work.
“.there’s a lot for you to learn by…challenging where your boundaries are…”
Do you have Learning and Development programs at work?
Are you an avid participant, even if you think you know the subject?
What’s not being taught, that could be useful?
How could you find out yourself?
Are you too old or experienced to learn anything new?
Is creating learning opportunities a job for leaders or specialists, or is it your responsibility?
Did anyone ever stop you from learning about something new?
Or did you stop yourself?
Where are your boundaries?
.
.
“I might be wrong, but at least I’ve thought about it…”
*not his real name 😉