Every one of us has made mistakes, and we all have weak spots. But if you want to be successful in what you do and in how you do it, the trick will lie in not repeating the same mistakes. In order to do that, it will mean taking a long view of your patterns and your thinking and not repeat the ones that don't work. Here's a successful system to make that happen:
1. Identify your patterns.
If you want to make a break from how you've done things in the past, seek out patterns, if you cannot identify them for yourself, ask others for input--it can be hard to seeing yourself clearly and objectively.
2. Recognize your gaps.
Everyone has at least one thing that stands in their way of their success. In my new bestselling book, The Leadership Gap, I identify seven gaps that most of us experience. Learning to identify and leverage them can help keep you from repeating your mistakes.
3. Revise your outcome.
To get different results you have to revise your actions. Start by identifying your weakness, then design a solution and do what you can to get the results you want. Deal with one problem at a time and focus on small wins at first.
4. Let your ego go.
Many years ago, when I first started my coaching consultant company, I realized how many leaders make decisions and take action from their ego. It happened so often that I turned ego into an acronym for "edging out greatness." Ego makes it difficult to see yourself or your choices objectively, but if you let your ego go, you can become not only more effective but even more influential.
5. Practice radical honesty.
To avoid repeating your mistakes, the blinders must come off about your blind spots and weaknesses. When you can be radically honest with yourself--and trust me, it takes practice--you will be able to deal with the consequences of your realities. It will not only improve your achievements--it will change your life.
6. Know what's important.
Are you willing to admit that you don't know something? Most leaders think they need to know everything. The best leaders don't know much more than the rest of us, but they're great at coming up with the right questions and having smart individuals tell them what they think. It isn't nearly as important to have all the answers as it is to have the right questions.
7. Bring people along.
There are many ways to succeed. You can succeed on your own over a long time, or you can bring others along and get the help you need. Bringing people along and getting them involved will not only broaden your perspective but will expand your sphere of knowledge.
At the end of the day, you cannot allow your mistakes to become a pattern and your blind spots to keep you from succeeding. Every mistake has a solution, and this process helps you find it.