Think About The Last Time You Evaluated Yourself

Five Things To Think About For Five Minutes on the subject of STAYING SHARP

It's easy at this point in the school year to begin to fall into a rut.  We become comfortable in our position, with our jobs.  We develop a routine.  But often, we don't function at our highest level because we don't open ourselves up to an evaluative process that can help us be...better.  The following five questions are important reminders that we often need an objective voice to gauge our progress.

1. When was the last time someone gave you constructive criticism and you identified something constructive in it?
Everyone has people around them that are all too willing to offer criticism.  It's easy to be a critic.  What's difficult is to find people who care about you and can offer the kind of criticism that can actually make you better!  The constructive kind of criticism can be an effective way for us to recognize our blind spots.  But it's not just listening to the criticism, but actually taking it to heart -- doing something about it -- that makes it constructive.  Do you know how to receive criticism? (read this post if you don't)

2. When was the last time you had someone evaluate your performance?
Just imagine what it would be like to have someone shadow you for a day.  Imagine having someone attend your next event and hand you an evaluation sheet at the end with comments and suggestions.  Does that excite you?  Scare you?  The goal here is for your improvement.  It always helps to choose an evaluator whom you trust and who will be honest.

3. When was the last time you accomplished a goal you set?
The obvious starting place for an answer is to check and see if you've set any goals.  It's easy to reach the ones that we haven't set.  Sometimes we fall into a routine because we don't have any new ideas or haven't thought very far into the future (beyond the next hour).  When we welcome in another person's point of view or experience (even when they're watching us), we can gain valuable wisdom into new areas of learning.

4. When was the last time you learned something new about your job or position?
Some people are hesitant to learn anything new about a job or position because they are territorial.  They've developed their area and are quite comfortable to rule their small corner of the world.  But when we move outside of our comfort zones, we find that it enhances the areas that we are already comfortable in.  When I see someone else in a similar position or job to mine and discover some new and different things that this person is accomplishing, it motivates me to do better or expand my own position.  It helps me see that my way is not the only way, and often, not the best way.

5. When was the last time you invited someone new to join your team?
Not only can you as a leader become comfortable, but so can your entire team.  Adding a new person adds a new perspective.  This person won't be familiar with many of the rituals and ways of doing things that the group has grown comfortable with.  They may raise some questions.  They might ask why.  This causes the group to reconsider some patterns and habits.  One of the best evaluative questions that I ever heard in regards to dealing with programs and positions that have been going on for a long period of time is: If you were going to start this position or program today, brand new, would it look any different then how it currently looks?
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Use this material in conjunction with the 5x5s worksheet.
Download the 5x5s Worksheet here.
What is 5x5s?  Read more about it here.

Comments

[Kenton Lee]

Tim, when are we going to see a five-by-five on longevity? I would really like to live past the age of 120, and I need five things to help me do that. Thanks.