One of the most important tools we have is Self Evaluation. Anyone who is successful at anything has been through a lot of self analysis and good business person will be constantly analysing themselves and their business.
Kolbs learning Cycle is a graphic that can show us how we analyse ourselves, and whilst most people will look at it and go "well that's completely obvious", very few of us consciously do it as part of our self developing. Our learning experience can start at any point on this cycle and by knowing at which stage we are, on anything we trying to get better at, we can use the cycle to systematically and methodically learn at a greater pace than before.
Kolbs Learning Cycle is pretty simple once you've got a grasp on what each part actually means. I have created a simple exercise for you to follow on any project you are doing right now. This could be running your company, managing a store or trying to bake a cake.
Reflective Observation:
To make this exercise work, we're gonna start at this point on the learning cycle. Whatever project you've got in mind, you need to write step by step what it is you did. Let's say you're tried to get more clients so you ran a promotion, advertised in some local newspapers and leafleted. Think about where you advertised, what was the promotion and where you sent leaflets and write it all down as precise as possible. It seems obvious and basic, but when have you ever done that before?
Abstract Conceptualisation:
At this stage it's time to make some conclusions about what it is you did. I always ask myself two questions at this stage.
What Worked?
What Didn't Work?
Again, this seems really simple, but it's about actually sitting down, asking yourself those questions and writing it all down. Keeping with the same example as before, how many more clients did you gain from the promotion, did the advertising work and did many people take your leaflets? If so, did they ring you or buy your products?
Active Experimentation:
It should seem obvious now to stop doing what's not working and put all that extra focus and work into doing what is working. Let's say the promotion attracted 10 more clients and took very little effort. The advertising attracted 2 clients and took a lot of money, and the leafleting attracted 15 clients but took a lot time. It would seem wise to detract the advertising and put that effort into leafletting, and to carry on with the promotion or come up with a new one.
Concrete Experience:
Now that you have planned what to do... go do it!
Then you can start the whole cycle again.
It's very easy to get into the habit of doing something, even if it's not working particularly well. Very few people sit down and spend a few hours analysing their work and planning how to make it better. Those that do are constantly improving and becoming more successful in different areas in their lives. By developing your skills, your value goes up and employers have no choice but to pay you more, and clients will see the benefits in paying extra for the better quality service or products you supply. I constantly ask myself these three questions...
What Am I Doing?
What Is Working?
What Isn't Working?
Without actively asking yourself these three key questions, you'll find yourself getting stuck in a rut and never improving.
FM
