Cultivating the Mindset of Continuous Improvement
As we step into October, with Halloween just around the corner, it’s a good time to think about the masks we wear—not only for fun but in our professional lives as well. Sometimes we hide behind a mask of perfection, unwilling to show our vulnerabilities. But the real magic happens when we remove that mask and embrace practice. In this month’s newsletter, we’re diving deep into what it means to cultivate a practice-oriented mindset, why it’s crucial for facilitators and leaders, and how we can be intentional in our growth. Practice isn’t about flawless execution; it’s about embracing the journey, learning, and improving bit by bit. The more we practice, the more comfortable we become with our imperfections, and the more we grow into the roles we aspire to fill. Ultimately, practice is not just a means to an end, but a lifelong approach to learning and mastery, continually pushing ourselves towards new horizons.
Practice Over Perfection
Too often, we see people hesitant to start something new or step into a leadership role until they feel “ready.” This fear of not being perfect becomes a barrier. In our Practice Playground, we emphasize a powerful mantra: “Practice over perfection.” By prioritizing getting the reps in—experiencing success, failure, and everything in between—we learn far more than by waiting for that ideal moment. Perfection is an illusion; practice is where growth lives. Every stumble, every awkward attempt, and every failure provides valuable lessons that contribute to our progress.
When participants in our Practice Playground take on new roles or attempt new techniques, they often find that they learn more through doing than through planning. This is the crux of the difference between theory and practice—trying, failing, and learning leads to more meaningful insights than waiting to get everything right. The willingness to put oneself out there, even when success isn’t guaranteed, opens up new possibilities for personal and professional development. Overcoming the fear of failure allows us to see that practice is, in fact, the most reliable path to mastery. It shifts our mindset from avoiding mistakes to embracing them as opportunities for growth.
The Practice-Oriented Mindset
Practice isn’t just something that happens on occasion—it’s a mindset. In facilitation, we encourage leaders to be deliberate in seeking opportunities to practice and grow. Imagine a figure skater learning new moves—they can’t achieve those incredible spins without falling a few times. Practicing facilitation is no different. We have to allow ourselves to explore, to fall, and to learn.
One key element of adopting a practice-oriented mindset is to set deliberate goals. What do you want to improve in your facilitation practice? Perhaps it’s how you handle silence after asking questions, or how to better transition from one group activity to the next. Identifying these focus areas allows you to frame your practice sessions around specific growth, turning every opportunity into a chance for deliberate practice. A practice-oriented mindset means seeing every interaction, every session, and every challenge as an opportunity to refine your skills and grow more effective in your role. This perspective enables us to be proactive about our development, continuously setting and revisiting our goals to ensure that we remain on an upward trajectory.
Another important aspect of a practice-oriented mindset is persistence. Growth takes time, and it requires us to keep going even when we don’t see immediate results. Consistency in our efforts allows us to chip away at our limitations, making incremental progress that adds up over time. Practicing regularly also helps us internalize new skills, eventually turning them into second nature. By embracing this mindset, we can transform practice from a daunting task into a fulfilling journey.
The Role of Reflection
Practice without reflection is just repetition. In our Facilitation Labs, we integrate reflection as a fundamental component of every session. After roleplaying scenarios or attempting new techniques, participants take time to reflect individually and collectively. We ask them, “What did you notice?” and “What will you take forward?”
These moments of reflection transform ordinary practice into deliberate growth. It’s not enough to simply go through the motions—taking a step back to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and how to adjust is what truly propels us forward. This reflection can be as simple as five minutes at the end of a meeting or as comprehensive as a group discussion. The key is to make it routine. By making reflection a habit, we deepen our understanding and become more attuned to our own progress, which in turn accelerates our growth. Reflective practice is what allows us to connect the dots, bridging the gap between intention and action.
Reflection also provides an opportunity to celebrate small wins. Recognizing our progress—no matter how minor—helps keep us motivated and reminds us why we’re on this journey. It’s easy to focus solely on what went wrong, but acknowledging what went right is equally important. This balanced reflection fosters a growth mindset, where both successes and failures are seen as valuable parts of the learning process.
Building a Culture of Practice
For true growth, practice must become part of the culture. All too often, organizations bring in a facilitator—a “capital F” Facilitator—for a one-time event, expecting a quick fix. But if we really want to see transformation, it can’t be a special occasion; it has to be integrated into how we work every day.
This is why we often recommend creating a “community of practice” after a workshop or engagement. It allows participants to reflect, apply, and share their learnings over time. The magic isn’t in a flawless event—it’s in the ongoing commitment, the habitual practice that builds skills and reinforces change. Just as a Halloween party is fun for one night, but true community is built over time, practice is about consistency, not a single moment. Building a culture of practice means encouraging experimentation, celebrating small wins, and supporting each other through setbacks. It’s about creating an environment where people feel safe to try, fail, and try again—knowing that each attempt is a step toward mastery.
This year, our annual summit is dedicated to the theme of ‘Practice.’ It will be an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into these concepts, connect with peers, and engage in meaningful discussions about how to build a culture of continuous practice. Whether you’re an experienced facilitator or just beginning, the summit is a chance to expand your skills and connect with like-minded individuals.
Creating a culture of practice requires leadership commitment. Leaders need to model the behaviors they wish to see, demonstrating their willingness to engage in practice themselves. By doing so, they signal that practice is valued and respected within the organization. When practice becomes a collective endeavor, supported by peers and leaders alike, it fosters an environment of continuous improvement where everyone is motivated to contribute and grow.
The Role of Curiosity
Curiosity is an essential companion to practice. When we bring a curious mindset to our work, we open ourselves to growth in unexpected places. We might think we’ve encountered a scenario countless times before, but by asking ourselves, “What might I learn from this moment?” we can unlock deeper understanding.
A curious frame is also essential in group settings. During our Labs, participants who engage with curiosity help each other grow, pushing beyond comfort zones in supportive ways. They ask questions, offer insights, and create an environment where everyone is encouraged to stretch their thinking. In practice, curiosity turns ordinary moments into opportunities for breakthroughs. When we approach practice with curiosity, we transform every experience into a learning moment, allowing us to discover new insights, identify hidden patterns, and spark innovation. Curiosity keeps our practice fresh, ensuring that we’re always learning, always growing, and always moving forward.
Curiosity also makes practice enjoyable. It shifts our focus from simply “getting it right” to exploring possibilities and uncovering new knowledge. This playful approach to practice removes pressure and fear, making us more open to trying new things and embracing the unknown. By staying curious, we can navigate the challenges of practice with a sense of wonder, making the journey itself deeply rewarding.
Embracing Failure as Feedback
Failure is often painted as something to avoid, but in our practice sessions, we frame it as an integral part of learning. Failure is not a setback—it’s feedback. In our bi-weekly labs, we encourage participants to try new techniques, knowing that they might stumble. These “micro-failures” are invaluable because they offer insights that we can’t get from success alone.
Think about a figure skater again: they learn where their edge is by falling, by pushing to that boundary and then adjusting. In facilitation, we become resilient by practicing in lower-stakes environments. We learn to recover from a stumble so that when the stakes are higher, we’re ready. It’s not the flawless execution that matters most—it’s our ability to recover, adapt, and keep moving. Embracing failure as feedback allows us to learn without fear, to see mistakes as part of the journey, and to use them as fuel for growth. The more we experience these small stumbles, the more we build our resilience and confidence, turning failure into a powerful ally in our journey of continuous improvement.
Embracing failure also requires a shift in perspective. Instead of viewing failure as a negative outcome, we can choose to see it as an opportunity to learn something new about ourselves and our practice. This shift allows us to detach our self-worth from our performance, making it easier to take risks and push beyond our comfort zones. By normalizing failure within our culture, we create an environment where people are encouraged to experiment, innovate, and ultimately grow.
Making Practice Intentional
Intentionality is key when it comes to practice. We encourage our alumni, students, and participants to carve out time for intentional practice. It’s easy to fall into a habit of “practicing when it fits in” or only when there’s a pressing need. However, real growth comes when we dedicate time to it, honoring it as a part of our professional journey.
Intentional practice is also about simulation. Those who benefit most from our labs are often those in the middle of a real-world challenge—they’re struggling with something specific and applying new techniques immediately. This type of practice is far more impactful than simply theorizing about facilitation or leadership. Whether through a work project, volunteer role, or even just a practice playground session, finding ways to apply learnings in real, tangible settings makes all the difference. Intentional practice is about setting specific goals, finding or creating opportunities to work on those goals, and then evaluating the outcomes. It’s about being strategic and deliberate, ensuring that every moment of practice brings us closer to our ideal future state.
Intentional practice also involves tracking our progress. By keeping a journal or log of our practice efforts, we can see patterns emerge and identify areas where we need more focus. Documenting our journey helps us stay accountable and provides a tangible record of our growth over time. This practice of intentional documentation is yet another tool that helps solidify our learning and provides motivation to keep going, even when progress feels slow.
Embrace the Practice
Practice is a powerful tool, but only if we are willing to use it. It’s not about achieving perfection or waiting for the right moment—it’s about embracing opportunities, failing forward, and being curious enough to keep learning. At Voltage Control, we see practice as the foundation of growth, not just for facilitators but for anyone looking to lead, to innovate, and to create lasting change.
If you’re ready to put these ideas into action, join one of our upcoming Facilitation Labs in a region near you or participate in our weekly virtual Practice Playgrounds. These sessions offer valuable opportunities to practice with peers, gain real-time feedback, and grow in a supportive environment. Register now and take the next step in your facilitation journey.
As you think about your own practice, ask yourself: Where can I lean in? What deliberate steps can I take to push my boundaries and grow? The journey of practice is more rewarding when we take it together. With each step, with each effort, we make progress, and we do it alongside others who share our vision of growth and improvement. Together, we can build a culture that values learning, encourages experimentation, and sees every moment as an opportunity to get better. Remember, every practice session is a step toward your best self, and the support of a like-minded community can make all the difference. Let’s embrace practice, not just as a means to an end, but as a journey we share, full of challenges, discoveries, and countless opportunities to grow.
