To Improve the Team, Improve Yourself

1. Preparation
Self-improving team members think about what they can do to improve
themselves in the present, not in some far off future. They look for today's
potential learning moments, and they seize them. At the end of day, they think
about what they have learned and what they need to learn more about tomorrow.
In this way, they become deliberate and continuing learners, which prepares
them for challenges.

2. Contemplation
People who have greatly influenced the world have spent considerable amount of
time alone -- contemplating, meditating, and listening. "Time alone is essential to
self-improvement." It allows us to evaluate our actions, to make adjustments
where they are needed, and to plan for improved future action based on what
was learned in the past.

3. Application
Now is the time to start applying what you have learned; don't keep putting off
that difficult change. Maxwell says change generally comes when: 1) people hurt
enough that they have to, 2) they learn enough that they want to, and 3) they
receive enough that they are able to. The goal is to keep learning so that you
want to change for the better daily.

Bringing It Home

To become self-improving . . .

• become highly teachable; learn to listen and adopt the attitude of a
learner, not an expert;

• plan your progress. Adopt two levels of learning. First, choose an area that
you want to improve and select books, lectures, conferences, experts to
speak to in the coming months. Second, create learning moments each
day so that you learn something new everyday.

• value self-improvement above self-promotion: "Make your next career
move based on how it will improve you personally rather than how it will
enhance you financially."