Penelope Trunk, a career coach and co-founder of Quistic, which provides online career management courses, questioned the rookie mindset approach. Her contention is that some people are wired to seek out new challenges and keep learning, while others are content with the status quo.
She believes those innately driven to push themselves in new directions will do that on their own and those comfortable in more predictable routines shouldn’t be made to feel they have to change.
“When a person says we should all have a rookie mindset, it’s depressing if you don’t,” Trunk says. “Why should they have that mindset? They’re fine.”
I agree people are wired differently, and I certainly respect Trunk’s belief that workers who don’t aspire to constant waves of new challenges shouldn’t be made to feel bad.
But I can’t quite bring myself to say there’s anything wrong with encouraging workers — regardless of how they’re wired — to challenge themselves. Even if it’s not what they want to do, taking on new tasks, learning new skills and having fresh ideas can be critical not just to success but to continued employment.
I began writing this workplace column knowing precious little about the subject matter. That put me in a position where I had to—and still have to, almost every week—learn from experts like Wiseman and Trunk.
It’s a good position to be in. It keeps me energized and hungry. Maybe that’s the way I’m wired, but I think operating under these circumstances can have value for everyone.
So regardless of your job, at least consider the benefits of stepping beyond the things you know you do well. You might find that being uncomfortable and confused has its advantages.
©2014 Chicago Tribune
Distributed by MCT Information Services
