Live by Aspirations: Stop Using Genetic Wiring as an Excuse
Personality assessments are fun because we are fascinated with ourselves.
Don’t coddle yourself with your Myers-Briggs assessment, or any other. Your genetic inclinations are a platform, not an excuse for self-affirming apathy or incompetence.
Genetic wiring is a platform, not a cap on potential. Don’t cower behind, “I’m not wired that way.” If you aren’t good at leading, learn to lead.
Extroverts learn to listen.
Introverts learn to give presentations.
Tender hearts learn to have tough conversations.
A lens not a limit:
Self-understanding is essential and energizing. My most natural tendencies are creativity, teamwork, honesty, love of learning, and leadership according to the VIA Character Strengths Assessment. It also indicates I’m not inclined toward forgiveness, humility, and self-regulation. (I usually think assessments are wrong when they identify my weaknesses.)
Lack of humility is obviously a hindrance. But creativity and love of learning hinder me too. I spend too much time improving decisions. Sometimes I need to stop improving and get busy doing it.
Live by aspirations:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types based on preferences for four dichotomies: extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving.
Perhaps MBTI indicates you’re an introvert. You hate talking in front of groups. So what!
Genetic wiring is a platform, not a limit.
Live by your aspirations.
If you aspire to lead teams, use your genetic wiring as a lens.
The best leaders live beyond their wiring. Introverts learn to practice extrovertish skills. Thinkers learn how to get things done and Doers learn to develop relationships.
Develop skills that express your aspirations. Don’t hide behind your genetic wiring. Learn to lead from the genetic platform you were given. Genetic wiring isn’t an excuse for apathy.
Live by aspirations not limitations.
How do you know when to challenge yourself?
I used to think of extroversion as confident leadership and introversion as shy submissiveness. Therefore I “decided” I was an extrovert. But a recent focus on introversion in the literature helped me think of the continuum as more about where you tend to get your energy. In this way, an extrovert gets energy from others and runs dry alone – while an introvert’s energy comes from within and may more easily feel exhausted when spending too much time with others. In this way, I realized I was more of an introvert and became more purposeful in sharpening my saw.
Thanks, Dawn. Great point. I’m more of an introvert than an extrovert too. It’s great to know where you find energy. Susan Cain’s work on this is so helpful. I wish you well.
This is perfect timing, Dan. My company had a department meeting last week and, in preparation, we were given the Myers-Briggs assessment. A HR representative presented the results during the meeting. It was an interesting exercise. In the end, I am better prepared to better spot personality traits in coworkers and customers and know how to deal with them on a personal level.
That’s wonderful, Chris. Your comment is a great reminder that one way to get to know people better is to take assessments like the MBTI. I’m so glad you found value in the results.
Your statement of, “Sometimes I need to stop improving and get busy doing it.” aligns with a conversation I had with a colleague yesterday. I indirectly received a message from another department that referenced “I hope that ‘blank’ department notices/does this ‘thing'”. My response was “hope gets us nowhere”. Reach out, seek understanding, and we can better collaborate to serve our customers.
I appreciate your focus on taking action, and modeling for us to do the same.
Thanks H. It’s surprising how talking and planning make us feel like we’re actually doing something. But it’s an illusion. “Get busy living or get busy dying.” From the Shawshank Redemption. I’ll add, what every you do, get busy.
This is a powerful message – any story you repeat to yourself that is limiting in anyway can be damaging!
Good point, Karen. Our inner-voice is the most powerful voice we hear. It can discount compliments. Deceive us into thinking we’re better than we think we are. And it can motivate us to reach higher.
Thanks Dan. This is something I have been saying for a few years. The best treatment I have seen of these things is Richard Rohr’s take on the Enneagram. He identifies the “sin” of each Enneagram type and then suggests ways we can use the tool to grow away from that sin. Food for thought!
Thanks Rob. Rohr’s approach sounds interesting. Sometimes looking at the dark side is a way to see and understand the bright side.