Your Biggest Challenges or Obstacles

This is the seventh in a series of 13 questions designed to help you capture the best from the past year. To learn more about this project and to download a tool to help you with your process for completing this year and starting next year more successfully, check out this post.

Here's today's question:

What were my biggest challenges or obstacles?

The answer for me is clear - I need to get better at execution and implementation. At The Kevin Eikenberry Group we are excellent at surfacing ideas and opportunities, and while we do get a lot done, we don't do as well in this area as we could. Let me rephrase that and put the focus where it belongs. I as a leader am an obstacle in this area.

If you have been reading this series of posts you will know that this issue was the core of my answer to question #4 - Knowing What I know Now, What Would I Do Differently?

I think it is completely natural that your answers to these two questions might be related, in fact in some cases after thinking about this question, you might have other, or more complete answers to #4.

Perhaps you are thinking of an external obstacle or challenge - the loss of a job, a Customer, or perhaps a change in the economy. While these things may well be obstacles, I encourage you to think about your challenges with a personal focus. Consider what role you played in creating or sustaining this obstacle. Equally important consider what you did (or can do now) to overcome that obstacle or challenge.

That last sentence is a bit of a preview to Wednesday's question, but for now, ask yourself about your obstacles and challenges, and enjoy a very Merry Christmas!


Note - Tomorrow is Christmas Day and I won't be posting in this series. I'll be back on the 26th with the 8th question. (If you don't have the tool to help you Make 2008 Great, click here.)

Labels: challenges, learning, questions, reflection

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