Jeff and I are posting this week about different ways to effectively learn new project skills, including the value of practicing <\/i>new techniques in different forms.\u00a0 I talked yesterday about the value of practice with feedback<\/i> as a critical component<\/i>.\u00a0\u00a0 Today, I want to highlight another version of in-the-moment learning and just-in-time support that involves feedback, and that is especially valuable whenever we have just hit a big project challenge. \u00a0Let me explain — and illustrate this powerful form of support that I think many of us are missing out on!<\/p>\n
I recently had one of the most rewarding “mom” experiences you could ask for. Out of the blue, middle of the day, got a call from my teenage sophomore-in-college daughter. It was mid-term week – and “the BIG TEST” was that afternoon, the one she was really stressed about. That stress showed as she (very emotionally) expressed her worries as the reason for her call.<\/p>\n
We talked for about 15 minutes. And I got to support her. Very specifically, I had the honor and pleasure of getting to coach<\/span> her a bit. We covered a bunch of ground in a short time: some quick stress-reduction techniques (deep breathing, focusing visually on the environment vs. obsessing over the coming test, rolling those shoulders…); the joys and saving graces of partial credit and to pace her work across problems to maximize it; a tip for talking to her professor after this to get some advice on how to study even better next time; a personal story of obstacles overcome (I too was an engineering major and made a C in the class she is now taking, and still “came out fine”…..); and my assurance that all the freaky physically stress reactions she’s experiencing are normal!<\/p>\n By the end of the call she was calmer and even laughing a bit. Still nervous, but ok! Not because I’m some miracle-worker with world-bending insights; just because she got a little targeted, practical, understanding coaching, from someone with some experience with what she’s going through. And she got that coaching **right when she really needed it**.<\/p>\n What essentially did this quick coaching provide?<\/p>\n – some perspective and validation<\/strong> — those big concerns are normal and survivable<\/p>\n – some tools and techniques<\/strong> – practical ways to deal with the immediate situation<\/p>\n – some confidence<\/b><\/em> – to go handle the tough situation<\/p>\n Why don’t we do more of this for our project challenges<\/span>, especially our particular personal “high-stakes and massive butterfly times”? (Having to go talk to a known-table-pounding exec sponsor to deliver some bad news and ask for help. Having to lead a tough discussion or decision-making session that involves team segments who are currently in wild disagreement. As a new PM, even just having to run your very-first-time-ever cross-functional team meeting…) I’ve gotten some coaching in my life; I’ve given some too, including to PMs in situations like this. How much more awesome is it to enter each fray on more solid footing, obtained from just a few minutes of advice and moral support?<\/p>\n