False Start and the Lessons You Learned
Have you ever experienced a false start? No, I’m not talking about football although that could apply. Have you ever started to jump forward only to jump back?
In your workplace there are often questions about motivation. Does motivation come from within or can you inspire motivation in others?
A closely connected cousin is, initiative. Are you willing to take initiative or are you more withdrawn?
Often there is an expectation for jump. Yet, the rules aren’t clear.
Perhaps there is a time from your past when you took the leap only to be later be criticized for the outcome.
Anticipation of criticism causes people to hesitate, step back, and withdraw. A leap may feel within reach yet as quickly as you spring forward, you hesitate and jump back. That’s a false start.
False Start
Have you ever let past experiences or teachings from a younger age hold you back or create a false start?
We’re often taught about patience. We’re told not to jump in line, let others go first. Hold doors, make room, stand back, and that, “life is not only about you.” Valuable lessons on courtesy, etiquette, and patience. Yet, sometimes patience results in lost opportunity.
Are you missing opportunities because you aren’t taking initiative?
Do you believe that you can and should take more initiative? If so, what is holding you back?
Could it be a childhood lesson?
Past Lessons and Learning
Perhaps it was show and tell, and people laughed when it wasn’t intended to be funny. Now, you fear the presentation.
Maybe you weren’t picked for the team, so you’ve decided you won’t raise your hand in an offer to join. It is too risky to expose yourself to that vulnerability.
Maybe you started eating dinner before a prayer was said, or ate all of the potato chips when you got home from school. You were instructed not to do it again.
We’re often taught to hold back, get back, or stand back. Probably meaningful lessons at the time.
As adults, we sometimes have to shake off some of the things that we’ve learned.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
