We don't know what we don't know.

Written By Mindy Muller

This seems a simple statement but the older I get the more profound it seems. I have been around a fair amount of time now. I know some things I didn't know when CDP started and I know things now that I had no clue about when I started my career. I'm grateful for the #wisdom I've gained over the years, but I'm also keenly aware that there is still much to learn.

When we start our professional lives we don't have a list of things we need to learn. No one hands you a checklist to complete as your career grows and expands. We can read books, watch Ted Talks and listen to mentors but ultimately the checklist of 'what I need to know' develops as we go. Here are some key principles that have helped me:

  1. Be quick to listen. Observe and make notes of unfamiliar terms, ideas or information shared. Listen to what is being said and what I can learn from it. Note what others in the room seem to know that I don't.

  2. Be slow to speak. Be more interested in hearing the wisdom, insight and perspective of others than sharing my own opinion. Of course there are times my input is valuable but I strive to make my words count. Most meetings, conversations or exchanges should be more listening and less talking. Make note of what I learned or need to learn more about.

  3. Ask questions. Know who is in the room with more experience, more education or more wisdom than me and don't be afraid to ask them questions.

  4. Make learning a lifestyle. Always seek to learn something new. Go to conferences, read books, listen to podcasts. Take a class, get that degree, join a leadership circle. There are many avenues to learning. Each person should find what fits and integrate it into his/her life.

    Lifelong learning isn't just a nice phrase; it's what keeps us engaged, interested and growing. Keep building your list of things you didn't know and I'll keep building mine.

    -Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP

    #leadership #education #experience #career #learning #building #lifelonglearning #list #communitydevelopmentprofessionals #listen #James119

Mindy Muller

EDUCATE. SUPPORT. DEVELOP. CONNECT. CDP helps communities thrive. Through innovative and strategic partnerships with nonprofits, local government, educational institutions and community-based businesses, CDP works through community stakeholders to make communities places where everyone can thrive. Through our team of professionals we have helped thousands of organizations build their capacity to better serve their communities by providing innovative solutions to unique community development challenges.

Specialties include nonprofit capacity building; affordable housing solutions; community development strategies; and, social enterprise and entrepreneurship

https://communitydevelopmentprofessionals.com
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