“When did you last invest in yourself?”

From Original posted in May 2017

I am so glad that I wrote and shared this: I’ve had some feedback that this article was behind one of my clients contacting me. This person is now another excellent example of how Executive coaching can make such a difference. From drifting unhappily to broadening awareness and sense of purpose. From constant firefighting, to the resilience that comes from regaining control over emotions at work.

The return on value to the individual is clear.

Don't be shy to contact me if you have something you would like to be different, trust that you can change things and get in touch for coaching.

"When did you last invest in yourself?" is a question I found myself asking a client of mine. Unhappy at work, he started to compare himself to his peers and felt “less than”. It was when he started to lament the lack of leadership development he’d been given that I posed this question. His first response was to describe the energy he had put into his role, he had been goal-oriented on-the-job, and worked hard to produce great results in whatever he was doing. His underlying assumption? That if he worked hard, he would be given opportunities and tomorrow would take care of itself. Yet he was unhappy with what tomorrow had brought him.

I repeated my question with emphasis “..and when did you last invest in yourself?” It was like a bolt from the blue.

What’s your own concept of how development works?

·       For many, the metaphor is that we start as empty vessels and others pour their expertise upon us so that we can fill up with learning. We are reliant on the providers for our expertise

·       For some, it might be like going shopping to fill up the fridge. Then we take and use what we choose and replenish what is useful to us. We are reliant on the suppliers for our possibilities

·       For others, the metaphor could be the snowball, that we start a small core and gather layers of learning as we go forward. What is most recent is on the outside and gets presented and used first. We reflect the latest thinking and pass it on without being unduly attached to it

·       Or like a bundle of sticks that we add to as we forage for our learnings. We can untie and retie our bundle how we like it, leave some behind to travel light and add more to strengthen us. We are agile and adaptive to our environment

·       For still others, it could be that our learning is like strands of wool, to be carefully selected and woven with the other strands, crafted into a practical and aesthetic fabric. We are synthesizers, transforming a new way

What is your own concept? And how much responsibility does that mean you take?

Back to that question again: When did you last invest in yourself?

I know people are unique in experience and make up and I still find it fascinating how varied people’s reactions to this question can be. Given that no-one expects a job for life any more, why would we expect anyone else to have better reasons to invest in us, than us?

What is your own reaction to the idea of investing in your own development?

Clearly some development does happen because you are carrying out work, especially when that work is more challenging than work you did before. This learning can be amplified by reflecting on how we are working, and development comes in the application of new attention and intentions.

If you want to stay competitive, learn and develop at a rate greater than your peers. Don’t fall into the trap of doing the same development every year: -staying abreast of updates in your field is learning, yet is not to be confused with the development that will keep you competitive.

Back to that question again: When did you last invest in yourself?

If you are unable to remember when it was, or if it was a long time ago, then perhaps now is the time is right for a change of strategy? And, if not now, then when?

Written and edited by Lorenza Clifford (with a heartfelt nod to Herminia Ibarra, and original was edited by fellow coach Michelle Lucas).