When you learn something new, there’s two main problems you need to solve. The first, obviously, is how to put what you’ve learned into practice. This can take many forms. You can take a reference – like a book, a video, your notes, photos or even just what you remember –and you can make the decision that you’re going to practice it.
Depending on what it is and how much you want it, the level of practice you choose will vary from “maybe, every once in a while” to a concrete commitment to making some attempt to do it every day.
Long-time readers may remember me talking about going to the gym 3 times a week, and working both weights and the treadmill to hit some physical health, fitness and performance goals. When I was doing this, I knew that if I wanted to hit my targets, I needed to change my activity (remember, it’s one of only two things you can really control), so the decision I made was that, unless I was on an airplane, or somehow, it just wasn’t physically possible to hit the gym, then I’d get up at 4:30am and go—no matter what, and no matter how late I went to bed.
And…it worked.
And I got better. I hit my targets, then I made new ones, and I made a concrete plan to keep enhancing my skills and capabilities.
But the point was, I made that decision to put into practice what I’d learned, in this case, mostly from reading and a couple of videos to fill in the blanks from what I’d forgotten about proper form when I was working with a PT several years ago.
If you don’t make this decision to practice what you’ve learned, then you’ll never have to worry about the second problem you’re going to face:
How to transfer that knowledge and skill to someone else.
And that’s where the “cloning machine” comes in. Because, while you can’t really clone you, you can try and clone the activity and behavior you know are necessary to make a difference.
Now, given what we do, I’m talking about taking that knowledge and skill you have as a security professional, SABSA or otherwise, and really sharing it with the rest of your team. Because, it’s all well and good for you to be able to do it, but the thing about going it alone is…
…when you stop, even if it’s just for a minute to take a quick breath…
…it stops too.
Because you don’t have any leverage. And it’s that leverage, coupled with a common (or complementary) set of skills and a shared purpose that allows you – or any other member of your team – to take a necessary break—whether that’s just because you’re on holiday with the family or because something critical comes up where you just can’t come in.
There’s a saying that goes, “If you really want to learn something, then you should try and teach it,” and it’s something that’s proven true more often in my professional career than I can remember. And there’s many ways to do this, from giving a presentation at a conference to hosting a “brown bag” session at the office, writing an article, making a video…and the list goes on—as long as you don’t run out of imagination.
Unfortunately, most of us don’t really get the additional time required to figure out how to intentionally share what we’ve learned and know how to do in an efficient way. We’re too busy either doing it…
…or the millions of other things that seem to find their way onto our plate every day.
And when you don’t have time, you can’t focus…
…and when you can’t focus, you’re just not going to be very effective—
whether it’s teaching someone how you want them to do something, or you’re just trying to accomplish something yourself.
This reality is why both the individual practice and skill development required for security leadership and security architecture AND assisting you share that knowledge and align the rest of your team around a new way of working are big parts of the work I do with people in our Effective Security Leadership program. Because, sooner or later, making your security program more effective than it is right now, and solving some of those seemingly intractable problems that keep you mired where you are today…
…require a bit of both—sometimes in sequence, and sometimes at the same time.
So, if you think having some focused guidance in either (or both) of these areas might help you better manage whatever you’re facing right now, then maybe I can help. If I can…or if I can’t, I’ll tell you flat out. But in order to do that, we’re going to need to have a brief chat.
If you’re not ready, or this doesn’t sound like something that would work for you, then that’s totally ok. The program isn’t for everyone—nor should it be.
However, the only way to find out is to set up a quick call with me using this link so we can talk about what you’re trying to accomplish and what’s holding you back. Only after we’re clear on this will we have the information we need to make a decision about what to do next.
To set up the call, go here:
https://securityleadershipcoaching.com
How about we see what we might be able to solve together?
Stay safe,
ast
—
Andrew S. Townley
Archistry Chief Executive
