Growth Means Getting Personal
Here are some key undeniable and research proven things we know about being human.
People are not objective, people are subjective.
People are emotional.
People can't separate themselves from their worldviews and their own personal experiences and narratives.
What do these things have to do with personal or professional growth and development efforts? Everything!
Growth and development programs traditionally lean away from all these human characteristics by approaching people and content as if it's all logical, cognitive, subjective and avoid emotional or personal story connections. It's as sterile as an operating room in some training environments. It’s mostly instruction, information, and linear action plans.
Why is this the case? It often feels safer because the more academic the higher the sense of control. The opposite can feel uncomfortable and really freak people out. And to be honest, it takes certain proficient skills to manage experiential environments well.
This high-control, low-impact approach severely limits effectiveness and the desired impact of trainings, workshops, classes, and courses. If personal growth and professional development embraced the subjective, emotional, and personal human traits and behaviors, developmental investments would be 10x more impactful for participants, relationships, and employees and an organization.
Leaders must embrace the art form inherent in working with people. It will have a degree of uncertainty to it for sure, but that is where the payoff lives and breathes. It takes courage to head down that path but you are human too so I know you can do it.