Learning is in the Transitions

Key takeaways: 

• Leaders have the opportunity to develop during times of change and transition  
• Significant growth comes from our experiences 
• The best way to leverage these times of growth is to reflect on our experiences and what we’ve learned from them  

Great leaders are made.  

There is a significant body of research that tells us leaders and their leadership are shaped by their experiences. In fact, leaders’ most formative insights come from experiences like challenging assignments, relationships with family and coworkers, and the adversity they face.  

For many leaders, times of change and transition create a fertile ground for their growth and development. Those times can include stepping up into larger roles, starting with a new company, or experiencing a life change that has radically altered their perspective. All of these transitions can provide great learning opportunities to become an even better leader.  

While these experiences have the capacity to be developmental, they must be leveraged as such in order to have an impact. They become good developmental experiences when leaders are motivated to learn and lean into the opportunity.  

Crucible moments 

In his seminal book on leadership “On Becoming a Leader,” Warren Bennis describes the experiences that produce leaders as “crucible” moments. He says “some magic takes place in the crucible of leadership, whether a transformational experience like Mandela’s years in prison, or a relatively painless experience such as being mentored… Whatever is thrown at them, leaders emerge from the crucible stronger and unbroken.”  

But for these crucible moments to become developmental – as opposed to destructive – leaders need to find meaning in them and be able to learn. One of the most reliable predictors of successful leadership is an individual’s ability to find meaning in negative events and to learn from even the most trying circumstances. 

Turning these moments into insights 

While it is certainly true that our experiences provide opportunities for learning, we must lean into these opportunities if we want to get the most out of them. This is done most powerfully by reflecting on the experiences we’ve had and drawing out possible insights to apply in the future.  

After an important experience – good or bad – ask yourself a series of questions: 

• What happened and what was the outcome? Why?  
• What did I do well? Where did I make mistakes? 
• Were there clues that I missed along the way? 
• What feedback did I get from my partners?  
• What lessons do I distill from this experience? 
• Where can I potentially apply this in the future?  

Your reflections along the way will help you capture what is going well and what is challenging you. It will enable you to start to encapsulate what you have learned and where you can take action. It helps us convert these moments into great life and leadership lessons. 

Leading ourselves well 

Change and transitions surround us. Whether you are returning to the office, transitioning to a new role, or making a significant life or career change, you can lead yourself during this time by staying open to what’s occurring and drawing important lessons from the transition. The discomfort you feel during change can be a helpful signal that a growth opportunity is in front of you. Use it well.  

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References: 

Ashford, S. (2021). The Power of Flexing. New York: Harper Collins Publishing.  

Bennis, W. (1989) On Becoming a Leader. Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing.