Last week we began exploring personal mastery. You may recall, we divided this into five areas.

• Heart
• Legacy
• Mind
• Action
• Treating others well

We looked at heart and legacy last time so let’s continue with the last three areas and a few last thoughts on possible application.

Mind

Definition: Creativity, logic, imagination, and possibilities.

In our society, being logical is considered a strength. In reality, being logical is just a tool (like the other areas) and can be good or bad depending on its use. To be coldly logical about what brand of toothpaste to buy is perfectly fine. To be calculating and strictly logical with people will not build relationships like they could be otherwise.

Logic is powerful though. Logic helps explore, create, and refine. Logic builds great things! Mastering the mind is, in some ways, rediscovering the inner child. Please stay with me.

Who are the most creative among us? A child often does better in this category. Why? Creativity is not rewarded in many environments because it can be disruptive with questions.  And yet, being loyal to the organization’s purpose will ensure the organization survives long-term. This will require some imaginative engagement and exploration.

In some cases, gain in mind mastery is like taking a cork out of a bottle … let the naturally creative and imaginative child partner with the wise adult in you. For example, when facing a challenging decision, in addition to thinking through the issues logically, give place to the dreamer as well.

In an ‘adult setting,’ you can do this by simply telling someone who is demanding a decision, ‘Let me think about it and get back to you.’ Then walk down the hall or look at another priority while your sub-conscious chews on the problem. It is amazing how an unleashed imagination linked with mature logic can find a new solution to a difficult problem. Try it!

Action

Definition: Decisive, measured, rational, bold, courageous, and considerate.

It’s one thing to make a decision and it can be quite another to act upon the decision. Some could argue a decision without action is not a decision but let’s not go there …

Several years ago, I was faced with a difficult personnel problem. As I talked with the supervisor team and pondered on the facts over a few weeks, I started to realize in my ‘gut’ what I needed to do. The fact was, what I perceived as the right thing was going to be very hard.

As I cast about in my mind for another (easier) solution, I was blank. Finally, what broke the logjam was when I put myself in the position of a front-line employee and asked myself, ‘What would I expect the boss to do?’ Difficult or not, it was time to do the right thing.

Achieving some level of personal mastery in the heart, mind and legacy areas will not matter without mastery in the area of action. Theory is easy; action can be quite hard to do. A partial solution in motion is infinitely better than a perfect plan that stays on the shelf.

There comes a point where ‘just do it’ is the best advice. If you or I listen to conscience, we know when this point is. The fascinating thing is mastery in the other areas help mastery in the category of action. In other words, it is important to work all the areas together.

Treat Others Well

Time to stick my neck out … if more people used this section title as a mantra, we would not need the variety of government-imposed mandates for hiring and promotions. Treating other people consistently well regardless of who they might be is a powerful tool for good.

One of the lessons I learned while serving in the military was to give feedback based on BEHAVIOR. On any military team, it didn’t matter what you looked like, where you came from, how you talked, your education, and so on. What mattered was behavior. What you did was what mattered … and that is as it should be. This taught me the importance of focusing on the output and to coach based on the actions and results.

Treating others well means I ‘assume’ everyone else has equal potential of achieving success in whatever area. It is still essential to hire smart and realize everyone is completely unique. However, once someone is on the team, treat them well and let them rise to the challenge. In most cases, they will! If not, they simply may be in the wrong seat on the bus.

Summary

Here are application thoughts to get you started.

Heart – Mastery is about using emotional data in a healthy perspective.

• During the next few days, notice when you are angry. Being mad is often a secondary emotion – meaning there is another emotion underneath.
• Try to discover what is underneath your anger.
• Next, ask ‘why.’
• Once you understand the driver, use this emotional data in the same context for decision making. What is the emotion telling you? Why, for example, are you afraid in this situation? Use this to learn about yourself and the setting.
• Do not let others decide your emotional state. (‘He makes me so mad. She makes me sad.’) Make the choice yourself and then own it.

Legacy – Moving toward mastery in this area requires balancing the long-term against the present.

• Let the long-term decide your purpose. Let purposes and values dictate your actions in the present.
• Work to discover both your long-term purpose (why are you here?) and life-long values (how will you decide and treat others?).

Mind – Mind mastery comes from using both cold, hard logic AND creative imagination.

• Select a problem that needs solving. Pick it apart with logic. Next, throw it over to your sub-conscious and let the issue ‘marinate’ for a while. What dreamy solutions come to mind? Now COMBINE the two approaches into one. What great options do you find?
• Read books or listen to books on CD or watch educational videos to exercise your mind.

Action – Becoming a master in this category means doing well in the other areas and then stepping out decisively.

• Choose one decision you have procrastinated on and do something about it … this week … by Friday! If necessary, commit to someone about your intent so that person will hold you accountable.
• Do something physical this week at least three days for 30 minutes (not necessarily just jogging or working out but most any activity beyond sitting at the computer).

Treat Others Well – If you want friends, be friendly.

• Work on treating others well this week regardless of how you feel. None of us is perfect but we can all improve on consistency.
• Make one new friend this week.
• Work on using first names more with everyone from acquaintances to close friends.