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People are not pegs
"...start thinking of yourself as an artist and your
life as a work-in-progress. Works-in-progress are never perfect. But
changes can be made...Art evolves. So does life. Art is never
stagnant. Neither is life. The beautiful, authentic life you are
creating for yourself is your art. It's the highest art."
- Sarah Ban Breathnach, "Simple Abundance"
There is an old saying about trying to fit a square peg into a round
hole. Despite our efforts and a variety of aptitude tests, many people
feel like their jobs and job descriptions do not utilize their best
skills, natural gifts or their Art.
So, what if we were to rewrite your job description based on your
Art? What might happen?
A lot of companies say, "Our people are our best resources." Yet most
often businesses do not look at the person, they look at the job to be
done by that person.
I have written many times about natural gifts, which are your "Art." These
are the things you do exceptionally well; yet you usually downplay or take
them for granted. Funny thing is, we can often see the Art others bring
to our lives, but cannot see our own.
Last week on a coaching call, I was exploring with a client (we'll call
him John) the idea of his Art. Within his organization, John naturally
uses his Art everyday and as usual, takes these gifts for granted.
John's Art includes his ability to comprehend complex issues from
beginning to end, assess the ramifications of each action and come up with
a project plan.
For example, a key senior project manager resigned without any
warning. This type of situation would be a major crisis for many business
owners or executives and create a meltdown. Because it is his Art, John
was able to calmly listen to the departing project manager and
simultaneously consider all the things that had to be done to rectify the
situation: keeping his team focused and together, finding a leader within
the ranks to fill the position, look at the potential financial
implications, and see all the challenges from beginning to end. Part of
his Art is his ability
to see a problem as a whole project all at once.
John's Art involves "Creativity," a suspension of judgment to enable him
to come up with new ideas. He pushes aside logic allowing the spark of
the answer to evolve. I hope you are getting the picture of "Art."
John did not see his Art as special. "It's just what I do, " he told me.
As John became clear about his Art, he began to let it flow and instantly
come up with solutions to key problems in other areas of his company. The
problems instantly become projects with a beginning and end result. I
could feel his excitement across the phone.
Upon reading about John's Art, you may be in awe. Upon reflection, some
readers may even find they compare or judge themselves and use another
person's Art as a standard. Please stop! Each of us has our own
Art. Take a look at yourself. What you bring to your work and to the
world?
"The same man cannot be skilled in everything;
each has his special excellence." - Euripides, 480-406 B.C.
In Lance Secretan's book, "Inspirational Leadership," he describes Art as
"leveraging our talents." In a previous business, Secretan's top sales
person was brilliant at bringing in business and making sales but
terrible at filling out monthly reports. Finally, after two years of
haranguing this Sales Artist for reports, Secretan realized he could find
someone else
to do that particular part of the job and thus free up the sales person to
do what he did best.
He shifted the job description to fit the Art of the person as opposed to
jamming a square peg into a round hole.
My experience of living on purpose and coaching others tells me, the more
you optimise your gifts and use your Art, the more your life is on
purpose. You naturally make your authentic contribution.
Aside from getting superior performance out of yourself and others,
imagine the increased spirit and improved morale resulting from doing what
comes naturally.
Imagine your organization refocusing its best resources (its people!)
around the gifts these people naturally contribute and consciously
creating the
context for individuals to make their work a work of their Art. Wow!
Success today and into tomorrow must revolve around finding ways for us
use our gifts and live our Art. This begins with you. Understand what
you do well, what you love to do and what comes easily and naturally to
you. The signs are everywhere.
Your job is to uncover your gifts and then ruthlessly exploit them for the
benefit of others.
Look for inspired ways to allow your Art to flow. We can't afford to
allow our gifts to lie unused. It has never been a natural fit putting a
square peg in a round hole.
"Alas for those that never sing, but die with all
their music still in them." - Oliver Wendall Holmes
© 2000, Robert Knowlton
Robert Knowlton is an Executive Coach. Coaching in leadership development,
advanced communication strategies, and realizing your personal and
business purpose and vision. Coaching requires making a commitment to
yourself. Contact me today if you're ready to move to the next level of
success and fulfilment in your business and life.
Subscribe to Robert's free e-newsletter, "ON PURPOSE" to get coaching tips
and strategies for living a success-full and meaningful life. Visit his
web site at:
http://www.SuccessOptions.com/ezine.htm?peg
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