Being, Learning, Doing.

The Problem: American Corporations spend an estimated $160 billion annually on Learning and Development (L&D). Research shows that up to 75% of the information taught is never put into practice by employees. It’s forgotten, without any lasting impact on the individual or the organization. $120 billion is wasted.

How to raise the Value on Investment (VOI)?

As Humans, we spend much of our lives reacting to everything externally. However, it is how we process internally that determines our reactions. But how much time is spent on intentional self-reflection? At a training event a few years ago, the comment was made, “We are busy being Human Doings yet we were created Human Beings“. On the other hand, much of the $160 billion spent is focused on ‘Doing’ more, with the resulting low VOI.

 

The Traditional Model is:

However, the impact of this sequence is the low VOI already described. When individuals are not present to who they are Being, how much learning is lost (in the moment) through looking at phones, talking to the someone, checking emails? Moreover, when asked how a leadership meeting had gone, an acquaintance commented, “You would not have believed the egos in the room”. How do those egos (politics, being set in their ways, not being present) contribute to the longer term, low VOI? How does this impact the corporate culture and performance?

What is meant by Being?

To quote Merriam Webster: it is the quality or state of (having) existence.

The Solution: Being is where lasting behavioral change resides and includes creativity, agility & adaptability (see ‘How do you InvestInU?’ Part1) – a growth mindset.  Therefore, what occurs when the focus is applied to Being ahead of Learning? Focusing on Being elevates individual consciousness and mindfulness leading to heightened self-awareness and self-empowerment. As a result, developmental readiness is enhanced.

The individual’s Being is foundational to their Learning and Doing, just as sound structures are built on firm foundations. What outcomes are generated when there is an increased focus on the foundation (Being) of the individual? By how much would the VOI on the $160 billion be raised? Most of the metrics that an individual is measured by are external. What if each individual was more present to their internal dynamics (and how this in turn is impacting their external dynamics)?

Ask yourself, “Who am I Being?” How does this impact my performance?

To sum up, Being is central to human existence, but usually gets limited attention from most individuals (and corporations). The major pay-off which is potentially available if Being, Learning and Doing take place in that sequence, in a conscious way, is personal fulfillment and satisfaction. In turn the increase in outputs made to the benefit of society and self will also increase.

For InvestInU Members:

Use the Phase 1 questions to raise the self-awareness and self-empowerment to who you are Being.

For InvestInU Mentors:

Check your dashboard weekly to review your Members’ responses and incorporate their answers into future conversations.

InvestInU Phase 1: Weekly for 8 weeks. – “How do you InvestInU?”

• What are you most proud of from the past week?
• What has brought you energy and joy in the past week?
• How well have your moods served you?
• What has inspired you in the past week?
• How are you feeling about your Aliveness – Living Powerfully and how can you improve on this?

 

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Jonathan Ainsley April 2020.

#leadership #coaching # wellbeing ##wellness #growthmindset #hr