PM in LO part 2

Personal Mastery has been a favorite topic of mine, both professionally and personally. I understand that the journey of personal mastery is not an easy one, but when we embark on it, many fascinating things happen. For one, we become more aware of ourselves and some may even in the process discover themselves. Their life's mission, their hopes and dreams, their aspirations, and also their disappointments.

I read with interest, a religious newsletter today, which talked about changing the mindsets of others. On another occasion, a Head of Department asked how does one change another's mindset. Before we even think of changing anybody's mindset, we ourselves need to understand two things. One, what is our own mindset, and two, how do we know if our own mindset is accurate?

Your mindset is just as good, or as erroneous as mine! You may insist that your view is very bit correct (seeing the old lady), while I may verify that mine is in every sense most accurate (seeing the young lady). We can argue and you'd like to change my mindset and I would very much like to change yours so that we can both see the old/young lady!

This is where the phrase, "the map is not the territory" comes into play. You see, when you have a wrong map of the territory, it doesn't matter whether how you change your attitude or behaviors, you ain't going to get there. Let's say for instance, you have a map of Los Angeles, whereby you are in New York trying to get to Manhattan, will having a positive Attitude get you there? Or will changing your behaviors such as driving faster, or changing vehicle get you there, to your target? The answer is obvious.

So when you have the wrong map (mindset), changing your attitude or behaviors won't get you to your target. Instead if you got yourself the right map, then changing your attitude or behaviors would make a difference!

Now, how does this relates to personal mastery or even to a learning organization? First, you need to examine your mindset to make sure it is ARE (accurate, relevant, and engaged). The first two, we have already explored, i.e. accurate would at least lead you to your targets. Relevance is also important as having a map that is out-dated, though still accurate but very accurate in an anachronistic fashion is also not helping. But what about a mindset that is also engaged?

You see, by having an engaged mindset, one will first have an awareness of his current mindset. Until you are aware of your current mindset and the belief that it is just as accurate and relevant as the next guy, you will want to make sure that you listen to the guy, as he may bring in some insights for you. He may have some areas that are accurate and relevant, which you can then update yours and make yours even more accurate and relevant.

Besides having an engaged mindset, you will also understand the law of interdependence. That is how we behave will impact on how others will respond to us. When someone is rude when talking to you, chances are you will find that you'll be impolite as well. If you say your spouse doesn't give you attention, is it because of how you much attention you have given? Interdependence is also clear in an organizational context. Because we feel that someone cannot be trusted, we will give him less responsibilities. And because we gave him less responsibilities, he may feel less engaged and as a result become less enthusiastic. And when we see the lack of enthusiasm, we then prove to ourselves that he is incapable. And so the vicious cycle goes.

As such, a person with an engaged mindset will first understand the principle of interdependency. And as such, will take an approach such as first to understand then to be understood. With that, he will listen, rather than judge or make assumptions about another person. Before he thinks of 'changing a person's mindset', he will remember the self-discipline of practicing empathy so as to understand this person's mindset, to see how accurate, relevant, and engaged. After that, he will share a vision that is relevant to both and that is the right thing to do, where they will seek synergistic and win-win solutions for all. They can then leverage on each others' strengths and along the way think about how they can learn from each other and also from others along the way, so that they can continually make sure that their mindsets and also that of the organization can learn, improve, and move to the next level.

That is why personal mastery is so important in a learning organization!