Leadership experience without reflection equals stagnation.
A father and his seven-year-old daughter walk into a fishing store.
The father asks the store manager: “Can you advise us on the best gear for fishing?”
The store manager says: “You bet! I’ve been fishing up the local river for 30 years now. Let me show you what you exactly need.”
After the store manager shows a few fishing rods, the daughter asks him: “So, how many fish have you caught in the river?”
The store manager replies: “Oh, I think about three.”
And the daughter asks: “Today?”
“No,” says the store manager, “I’ve caught three fish in those 30 years.”
Having experience with something is not the same as being good at something.
Successful leaders and teams see gaining experience as an opportunity to reflect and improve. To prompt reflection, consider asking: “What did we do, what went well, and what might we try out differently next time?”
Experience without reflection equals stagnation. Experience with reflection is a launch pad for learning, growing, and performing above and beyond.