Introspection: The Key to Making Your Environment Conducive to Continuous Learning

Introspection: The Key to Making Your Environment Conducive to Continuous

Learning

@JeremyWillets; Path to Agility 2016

“People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.”


Why? (Motivation)• It aligns with one of my goals in life; to create.• I’ve lived this journey in my own life.• Lime + Rum + Mint + Ice =

How? | Abstract (Process)The heartbeat of the IT world isn’t technology; it’s the people. After all, we work in companies to have company! Whatever our relationship with each other – be it as a peer, manager, or coach – learning is often the essential unit of currency that’s necessary to move our relationships and businesses forward. Unfortunately – and sometimes unexpectedly – the people you work with probably aren’t very good at learning. How can we teach our colleagues, direct reports, and team members to be better learners; and even blossom into continuous learners? I’m a firm believer that practicing introspection is the first step to making your environment conducive to continuous learning.



How? | Outline (Process)• Presentation (Lecture) – 35 minutes• Personal Maps Exercise (Interactive) – 20 minutes• Debrief (Interactive) – 15 minutes


What? | Learning Outcomes (Product)• Be able to articulate how introspection corresponds to continuous

learning.• Take home tangible examples of techniques that you can use to

practice individual and group introspection.• Introspect on your own goals and values and be able to correlate your

goals and values with learning activities you can undertake that are aligned with them.

“My Learning Journey”

@JeremyWillets; Path to Agility 2016Time

Lear

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Grade/Middle/High School

Tech

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Current Learning Reality



+



“Align yourself with activities that will drive you to learn.”


Chris Argyris “Success in the marketplace increasingly depends on learning, yet most people don’t know how to learn.”


Chris Argyris “If learning is to persist, managers and employees must also look inward.”

“Introspection”


Introspection | Defined


Introspection | Why?


Introspection | Individual

||(Pause) ?


Introspection | Group

Forming closer connections with people leads to better collaboration!


Introspection to Continuous Learning

Introspection


Self-Directed Learning



Introspection

Self-Directed Learning


Continuous Learning


Continuous Learning | Why? | IT World


Continuous Learning | Why? | IT World

“Learning is the essential unit of progress for startups.”

[and existing businesses!]


Continuous Learning | Why? | Humans


Continuous Learning | Why? | Humans

Creativity & Innovation XInnovation is not just new inventions; it’s finding new value.



Introspection

Self-Directed LearningContinuous

Learning

Continuous Improvement

The loop sta

rts here!

“Methods for Introspection”


Introspection | Individually | Mental


Introspection | Individually | Mental• At the end of every day, ask yourself a set of mindfulness questions.

Examples:• What did I do today to improve communication with my manager and peers?• What actions did I take today to learn and grow?• Whom did I thank today, and who recognized me?• Was I mindful today of our company’s long-term goals?• How engaged was I at work today?• What did I do today to improve communication with my team?


Introspection | Individually | Physical


Introspection | Group | Leading Questions


Introspection | Group | Mental“Agile blurs the line between work and life because, to do agile well, we ask people to bring their whole selves to the endeavor at hand.”


Introspection | Group | Mental


Introspection | Group | Retrospectives


Introspection | Group | Check-In


Introspection | Group | Legos


Introspection | Group (Company) | OKRs• Objectives and Key Results• Quarterly Planning• Aspirational• Transparent• Visible• Promote Alignment


Introspection to Continuous IMPROVEMENT

Introspection

Self-Directed LearningContinuous

Learning

Continuous Improvement

The loop sta

rts here!

</Lecture>

<Exercise>

Personal Maps


Personal Maps | About• To get to know your colleagues better, you’ve gotta get to know

yourself first!• Mixes surface level and deeper information.• Individual and group level introspection.• A lot to ask?

Credit:


Personal Maps | InstructionsPlease write nicely!


Personal Maps | Instructions


Personal Maps | My Personal Map


Personal Maps | Your Personal Map• Pass your map to the person next to you.• Each person will present their peer’s map to the rest of the group.


Personal Maps | Team Personal Map


Personal Maps | In Closing

• Me - “Goals” and “Values” paths on this map caused me to make intentional choices about what I want to learn; and keep me motivated to learn.

• You - What is one learning activity you could undertake in the near future that aligns with your goals and/or values?• Write it down on your personal map.

Debrief


Debrief | About• Way to introspect and retrospect on an activity and re-inforce

learning.• Can be done in private, 1-on-1, or with a team.• Best done right after an activity ends.

Credit:

Dan Neumann Susan K. DiFabio


Debrief | Instructions• 5 slides with questions to prompt discussion about this session

(presentation and activity).• Each group will discuss each slide together for 2 minutes.• When 2 minutes is up, we’ll pull back and groups will share what they

talked about with the entire room.• This is a chance for me to get feedback!


Debrief | Feelings•What did you like? •What did you dislike?•What did you long for? •What are you bursting to say?


Debrief | Observations

•What did you see?•What did you hear?


Debrief | Meaning•What surprised you?•What did you discover about others?•What did you discover about yourself?


Debrief | Application

•How might this activity be useful to you?•How might this activity be useful to your team(s)?


Debrief | What’s Next?•What could you do?•What do you have a passion to do?•What experiments could you try?•What do you plan to do?

Thank You!https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PathSessions2016

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PathSessions2016

Technology

Introspection: The Key to Making Your Environment Conducive to Continuous Learning