Deliberately developing one's knowledge, habits, character, or ability over time.
Reach for it when describing ongoing personal development chosen for meaningful reasons
The self-improving supervisor invited anonymous feedback and acted on recurring concerns.
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| everyday | |
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| formal |
playful
betterment-minded
Fits when an informal coined phrase suits the voice
Careful The unusual wording can distract and may sound relentlessly optimizing.
everyday
Fits when acquiring knowledge or skill is the active process
Careful Learning one topic does not necessarily improve habits or character.
warm
developing
Fits when progress is real but still incomplete
Careful Everything living develops, so the word may say little about deliberate effort.
professional
growth-oriented
Fits when learning from difficulty is the defining outlook
Careful An orientation expresses attitude, while self-improving also implies action.
professional
Fits when examining experience supports better choices
Careful Reflection can remain insight without changed behavior.
formal
aspirational
Fits when a desired future self guides effort
Careful Aspiration is a hope, not evidence of present development.
self-improving habit
Keeping a decision journal became a self-improving habit rather than a scorecard.
self-improving person
A self-improving person need not treat the current self as defective.
remain self-improving
Leaders remain self-improving when they make feedback safe to give.
Keep in mind
Self-improving should not imply endless optimization or deny a person's present dignity.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
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