Talent systems in sport are mostly structured around providing two things – coaching and an opportunity to compete. Both are key to an effective system. You work on stuff with a coach, try it out in competition and then take what you learned and work on it some more.
One downside to this approach is the need to be given the opportunity to compete. No opportunity = no learning. This can also happen in the workplace but I think we all too easily miss other opportunities we can take.
For example, how we interact with fellow humans feels crucial to being able to survive and thrive in the world. So do we take the opportunity to maximise the quality of these interactions?
Try this to find out…
Think about all the opportunities for interactions you could have over the next 24 hours. Now think about what you could do in these interactions – help a stranger at a train station, put a smile on someone’s face, intuit where someone is at and make them feel seen, find a way to share some useful feedback that will probably sting, connect with someone you haven’t spoken to in ages – there are lots of options.
Now commit to take more (you will already be taking some) of those opportunities. And as you do this, look for ways to be better each time so you learn as you go.
Sometimes not being given an opportunity to learn will count against you but if you look hard enough, there will be lots of opportunities you can take. You just need to decide if you take them or not.
Tony
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