How to Reach Beyond the Limitations of Your Talent
You suck at many things and excel at few.
If you’re a “know all – decide all” leader:
- Create hierarchy.
- Stick with your expertise.
- Control everything.
- Surround yourself with kowtowing conformists.
5 signs you’re a “know all – decide all” leader:
- Immediate recognition that you know what to do in nearly every situation.
- Constant awareness of the weaknesses and shortcomings of teammates.
- Nagging need to intervene.
- Persistent overruling of other people’s decisions.
- “I told you so,” regularly pops into your mind.
Become a learn-it-all, if you carry the burden of all-knowing.
Learn all – decide some:
“The Clifton StrengthsFinder™ measures the presence of 34 talent themes (strengths). Talents are people’s naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied.”
I’m certain most of the 34 talent themes elude you.
Expand your reach. Concede that you have a narrow band of talent.
- Explore how others would handle your challenges.
- Incorporate what others do well. Avoid the gaps of sticking with only what you do well.
- Go with their gut, when they have expertise, experience, and a track record of success.
Become a “learn all – decide some” leader, if you hope to grow beyond the limitations of your own talent and expertise.
7 questions “learn all – decide some” leaders ask:
- What if they’re right? (Whispered in your own ear.)
- How would you handle this situation? (Watch out for people who say, “I would have … .” Second guessers are dead weight.)
- What options do you see?
- If you were me, what would you do?
- Who might know?
- Who should make the call? (You retain responsibility.)
- How can I get the most from people who think differently?
Bonus: How might you listen to those who think and speak otherwise?
“The people who become superstars are simply those who receive the most help.” Ken Kragan
What suggestions do you have for “know all – decide all” leaders?
What suggestions do you have for “know all – decide all” leaders?
Dan,
What has worked for me past and present? Talking with individuals who have performed the tasks outside my realm of expertise, seek their guidance and propose the project with the proper format to accomplish the event, task, project, etc. with the best solution from experienced individuals, After all “we are a team”!.
Don’t be afraid to admit we don’t know everything and educate yourself from experts who do know what your trying to accomplish.
Acknowledge the suggestions and what if we do this?
Intermix the experience with customer and see if each party is on the same page.
All the experience is irrelevant if the customer does not get what they expect.
“If you haven’t swam in the water don’t dive in”!
Thanks Tim. I respect how you consistently add value here.
The addition of customer value really hit me. It doesn’t matter how much we know or how “good” we do, if we aren’t adding real value to customers.
Have a great week!
Dan
Your so welcome! Glad to be a contributor, I respect the opportunity that all individuals present their views and look forward to my emails from the “Leadership freak”daily.
You have opened up my world too, beyond wildest dreams!
For that I thank You!
What suggestions do I have for “know all – decide all” leaders?
The same thing I try to remember and tell myself all the time: “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.”
Thanks Bud. Nailed one! 🙂
Thanks for always giving sound advice! This quote Resonated With Me : “The people who become superstars are simply those who receive the most help.” Ken Kragan
Thanks Michelle. It’s one of my favorites quotes. The person who can’t receive help in on the journey alone. Of course, the person who needs help all the time needs to grow up.
Cheers
My advice? Learn to be a good listener and to embrace diversity. Insular thinking keeps you stuck on your desert island.
Thanks again Michelle. There’s something powerful about “insular.” It challenges me to open up.
“I’m certain most of the 34 talent themes elude you.” I LOVE this! When I was much younger, that kind of quote would have offended me, because I was a know all-decide all leader. I was one that said “People that think they know everything really annoy those of us who do.” I am now less certain about more things than ever before… but I’m OK with that. I would simply ask a “know all – decide all” leader: “How much of what you know do you really ‘know’? How much is second-hand, hearsay, opinion, speculation?
I would also encourage them to watch one of my favorite TED talks:
Kathryn Schulz, “On Being Wrong”
Thanks Joel. I respect the candor in your comment. I’m with you. The “34 talent themes elude you” kicks me in the pants.
There is some value in over-estimating our abilities. We have boldness to try things. But, as your responsibilities go up, learning to let others be right is a powerful tipping point.
Thanks for getting me thinking. Cheers
Love the kickoff phrase.. “You suck at many things and excel at a few.” the sooner you “get this” the better the chance you stay/humble and teachable…but that can be a challenge, achievement builds confidence, next thing you know you have competency sprawl…
Thanks for the reminder, Dan! My real leadership journey started the day I realized I cannot control everything. I still tend to fall into that trap – once in a while 🙂 How should a follower work with a leader (a.k.a. boss) who has a nagging need to intervene?