Let's assume for the moment that you know what your "Developmental Edge" is.  You've already done the work of requesting feedback from colleagues and have spent time considering how they perceive you compared to how you perceive yourself.  You've narrowed down the field of developmental opportunities and have established goals. 

Perhaps you've hired a coach to support you along the way.  You've started working on changing some of your thinking and behaviors.  In short, you're now focused on "showing up" in new ways that make a difference for yourself as well as all those with whom you come in contact.  Good for you!  Now, how do you know you're making progress?   

The best way to take stock of your progress on the path of development is to learn how to observe your SELF in real time - to see what others see from the inside out.  The practice is called "Self Observation".  

Self observation is basically the art (and discipline) of paying attention to your SELF.  It's a practice familiar to Buddhists and Yoga practitioners and athletes of all types.  Self observation is a mental practice that cultivates the "inner observer" of a curious and non-judgmental mind.  Here's how to get started: 

Mentally think of yourself as BOTH the person who acts and interacts with others, and a person who observes your self in action.  Choose one moment in your day when you plan to "turn on" the internal observer.  It may be a standard staff meeting or a 1:1 conversation that you've been avoiding.  Whatever the moment you select, be mindful that for 10 minutes or so during the interaction, you will be BOTH doing and observing what you are doing.  In other words, you will be the person you always are (speaking, thinking, listening, reacting) and you'll be a person paying attention to your words, your thoughts, your patterns of reactivity, your body language. 

This is not easy to do and takes practice, which is why beginners should only attempt this for 10 minutes at a time.  No one else in the room will know that you're engaged in this practice.  The video camera of your mind will not be visible to others.

If you haven't tried this before - here are some things to pay attention to during your Self Observation practice:

• Breathing - how "short" or "long" is your breath?  When does it speed up or slow down?
• Language - is your language direct, subtle, free of judgments? Do you ask questions to engage others in the conversation or do you tend to advocate a point of view?
• Tone of Voice - is your voice loud, soft, even?  Is there a sarcastic edge? Do you demonstrate interest with your tone of voice or boredom?
• Body - what is your body doing in the moment?  Are you still and calm?  Are you fidgeting and moving around?  Do you maintain eye contact with others?  Do you lean in when you get excited?  Where are you experiencing tightness in your body?
• Emotions - what are you feeling about what is being said?  What emotions do you demonstrate to others?  How conscious are you of the connection between your thoughts and your emotional reaction to your thoughts? 

At the conclusion of this event, or at the end of the day, write down what you observed.  After two weeks, see what patterns emerge.  Ask yourself these questions: 

1. What have I noticed about the way I show up in these moments?  Am I relaxed? Am I open to the ideas and contributions of others?  How do I demonstrate this?  Do I often have assumptions that dictate outcomes?  What are my patterns?
2. What does my body tell me when I'm feeling tense, anxious, self confident?  How can listening to my body guide me in the moment?
3. Do I behave differently with different people in similar situations?  Why?
4. What is it about my behavior that gets things done or gets in the way?
5. What progress am I making in relation to my developmental goals?
6. What do I need to continuously pay attention to so that I can continuously grow?

Chris Argyris, an organizational consultant from MIT, talks about the "Ladder of Inference" - a mental framework or pathway which frequently leads us to actions without our conscious awareness.  Self observations help us to increase awareness of ourselves in-the-moment. It slows us down from leaping up that Ladder of Inference.

Through the practice of self observation, we discover those patterns of thinking and behaving that work for us (and others) as well as those patterns that often get in the way.  The practice is a tool we can carry with us anywhere and use at any time to check in on how we're showing up - to monitor our own progress against developmental goals. 

Personal change can only be lasting when it begins from within.  It can only be sustained when we consciously choose to pay attention to ourselves as we show up in the real world.  Development is truly an "inside-out" job   Check it out.  Try the self-observation practice and see what you learn.  You'll be amazed.  

1. Direct the Rider
   • Follow the Bright Spots
   • Script the Critical Moves
   • Point to the Destination
2. Motivate the Elephant
   • Find the Feeling
   • Shrink the Change
   • Grow Your People
3. Shape the Path
   • Tweak the Environment
   • Build Habits
   • Rally the Herd

The book presents scores of successful change initiatives following the strategy outlined above.  A chapter at the end discuses the most common obstacles to change and how they can be overcome. 

For those of you who loved Made to Stick (myself included), I predict you'll find Switch equally exquisite and poignantly practical.     

In addition to the four quarterly skill-building workshops, each participating leader is assigned an executive coach with whom he or she works throughout the year to create and execute a customized development plan.

Participants also receive an individualized 360° leadership assessment along with profiles of their conflict management styles and communication preferences.

Our next public enrollment program starts up in May 2010.  For more information, or to enroll, please call us on 866-960-LEAD (5323).  We also conduct the Institute onsite for organizations with 16 or more leaders ready to enroll at the same time.