The Catalytic Force of Role Models: Accelerating Multidimensional Growth in Work and Life ⚡
Ram’s Reflections | Growth Pathways Series: Role models inspire and guide us, helping accelerate growth in our professional, personal, and behavioral development.
While mentors play a crucial role in our development by offering guidance based on their experience, I've found that role models exert an even more powerful and dynamic influence on achieving the results we seek.
Role models are individuals who are living our aspirations right now, succeeding in the craft we aim to master. Their actions serve as a constant source of inspiration, showing us what's possible and motivating us to push our boundaries.
A Personal Example: Recently, in our coach-training cohort, I encountered a young, talented mentor-coach, Lakshan, who critiques aspiring coaches' sessions across various competencies to foster growth. His abilities impressed me and sparked my desire to develop similar skills. After two months of focused effort, I made significant progress, which our master coach recognized. This rapid growth was largely inspired by having a clear role model to emulate.
Role Models Across Different Dimensions: Throughout my life and career, key role models have shaped different aspects of my growth across professional, personal life, or behavioral dimensions:
I admired Brian Connelly for his technical acumen and jargon mastery, and I aspired to speak like him as I advanced in my field.
I learned a lot by observing Julie Henslee’s expertise in skillfully maneuvering senior leadership dynamics and strategic positioning.
Another leader I serve with inspires me with their empathy, emotional intelligence, and active listening—traits I continue to develop.
A professor's mastery of Sanskrit and his teaching style and approach inspire my own journey of sharing knowledge.
Over the years, I've worked diligently to acquire skills that emulate these role models, a journey that continues to this day.
Drawing from my own experiences, here are practical strategies for leveraging role models for your own growth:
Identify Your Role Models: Look for individuals who embody the skills, achievements, or qualities you aspire to develop.
Cultivate Deep Desire: Foster a sense of urgency and genuine enthusiasm to succeed in ways similar to your role models.
Study Their Approach: Analyze how your role models think, act, and overcome challenges. What sets them apart?
Take Inspired Action: Don't just admire from afar. Implement strategies and behaviors modeled by your role models in your own life and work.
Reflect and Adapt: Regularly assess your progress and adjust your approach. Remember, the goal is to become your own unique version of success, not a carbon copy.
In Closing, While mentors guide us with their wisdom, role models show us what’s possible through their living example. By carefully selecting and emulating role models, we can accelerate our growth and achieve heights we may have once thought unattainable.
Who are the role models inspiring your journey?💬
#PersonalDevelopment #RoleModels #CareerGrowth #Leadership #ContinuousLearning
About the Author: Ram Dittakavi, Sr. Director of Enterprise Analytics at Ascension, the largest non-profit healthcare organization, is a Multi-Disciplinary, purpose-driven Leader passionate about transformation, continuous learning, relentless improvement, and sharing insights for personal and professional growth through mentoring and coaching.