Insight is essential for handling both routine and one-off situations. Without learning from experience every decision becomes a one-of-a-kind process.
The Precept Explained
You’ve heard “been there, done that.”
It’s a short-handed way of saying I’ve already had that experience. Or, I’ve been through this before.
Meaning, I’ve been in this industry long to recognize the beginning (or end) of a normal business cycle.
Now, the assumption is that not only have I been through this, but I learned through experience some techniques for handling this specific situation.
That’s the point of the phrase pulled from Proverbs 17.27 that’s paraphrased above.
Insight is Essential
As a leader, I keep my wits during a challenging time because I’ve collected a toolbox full of insights that can be applied right now!
So, this isn’t false confidence, but one of the benefits of insight. It’s why insight is essential!
That is, the leader can move forward with self-confidence.
An impactful leader has enough experience that if one tool doesn’t work they have another technique ready.
Conversely, without this learning there’s no progress, because what got you here as a leader won’t get you there — to the next career stage.
In other words, the leader is equipped to behave wisely.
What’s Insight?
Experiential insight, as described below, is the ability to learn from experiences.
Leadership Insight
Experiential insight is great for keeping me calm under fire as a leader.
Moreover, I collect these insights through careful reflection.
However, some situations are one-off, thus the leader isn’t prepared through past learning. At these times, the leader must draw on the ability to think on his/her feet.
Thus, the leader pairs deep thinking with quick thinking when needed.
One-off Contingencies
For example, one-off situations may be part of the organization’s contingency planning. Here, they cobble together a strategy for responding to that which is rare, thus unexpected.
Then, in an emergency, the organization has a template for creating a response. Hence, the contingency plan becomes a substitute for prior insights.
Apply This Today!
Impactful leaders have enough time in rank that they can truly say I’ve been there and done that.
Additionally, impactful leaders practice deliberate reflection so they pull the maximum amount of learning out of each experience.
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