PERSPECTIVES IN FOCUS
Courtney Michener Miller
Everyone loves a good challenge in their #OneBeautifulLife, right? Perhaps this is a debatable question to ponder at your next team meeting. However, whether we like challenges or not, we live in a world where finding hurdles at work and in life is indeed inevitable.
If we use the analogy of a road trip, a challenge is simply a detour. How we navigate those detours is where we hold the potential for the best memories — and learning — to happen. If we prepare to expect the unexpected and shift our mindset to greet challenges with open arms, the world of learning and development is boundaryless in our businesses.
Now, I love a good challenge — it’s fuel alone for me to go all in. Let’s add some perspective to the challenge game to put it in focus, for those who don’t get quite so charged by the detours.
Author Daniel Pink explores the concept of challenge in his work extensively and I’ve recently uncovered a powerful approach to an enterprise strategic change management initiative by following some of his sage, simple advice.
Pink notes that when we are stuck at work a common question, we ask ourselves is, “What should I do about this project?” But this question may limit thinking.
Instead, he encourages we try asking, “What could I do to move this project forward?”
Immediately, the perspective feels wider. Do you feel the shift in mindset? Do you see yourself as part of a solution engine? Options, new ideas, opportunities begin to surface. This one small replacement of the word “should” with “could” allows individual strengths to feed a collective think tank and begin to move a challenge forward.
As learning and development leaders and practitioners in the life sciences arena, we know change is a constant in our businesses. We stand on the edge of innovation each day, staring it in the face, and we have a choice to make — react or start leading.
Our charge is to be on the forefront of gathering insights, diagnosing and solving real business challenges and becoming strategic business partners. It will serve our businesses, patients and purpose endlessly to seek challenges as trusted business partners.
Let’s begin to imagine challenges as unrefined feedback loops. As learning and development practitioners, it is our call to work to understand them as data points for ongoing refinement to drive performance.
Let’s make it our learning practice to:
Reframe challenges.
Adjust strategy continuously.
Refuel and check engine lights ahead of every journey to ensure forward momentum.
Together, we can master the art of taking the detour, of meeting the challenge, with courage in this #OneBeautifulLife. Let’s lead the way as learning and development change agents to see obstacles as predictable turns on the road of growth. We were made for the art of a good challenge in our journey and of course, we won’t forget to pack good snacks.
Make it a great year ahead in your #OneBeautifulLife for your business, one another and yourself. Stay kind, curious and courageous as you seek perspectives to bring you focus.
Until next time, be well and keep making a difference.
Courtney Michener Miller is head of commercial learning for AstraZeneca and a member of the LTEN Board of Directors. Email her at courtney.michener@astrazeneca.com or connect through linkedin.com/in/courtneymichenermiller.
