#67 the other side of the coin

I have two new staff members starting work this week.  Several people here have been busy planning training for them -- lots of meetings, readings and things to do to help the new employees to learn their job and get acclimated to our culture.  To be sure, learning what is serves a critical purpose and is vital to success in the position.  When you're new, you clamor to learn everything there is to know as soon as you can.

Harder to learn, but perhaps more valuable, is learning what isn't.  Sometimes it is a struggle for people at all stages to think beyond what is on the page to what should be there.  They proof a document and point out that a comma is missing, but fail to note that a paragraph to set the context or to explain something important is absent.  They learn every detail of the process, but don't stop to question why it is that way in the first place.  People become experts at what exists, but forget to be strategic about what should be happening.  

Whether you are brand new or a seasoned veteran, the real difference makers are the ones who ask "what isn't" in addition to mastering "what is".

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com