People develop, they seldom change. This is especially so when pursuing their preferred working style.
Everybody has strengths. This is ‘What’ they do best. Everybody also has a successful style. This is ‘How’ they work best. Combining these together provides a powerful combination.
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme called My Successful Style. This invites you to take the following steps.
1) You can explore your previous satisfying ‘projects’ to find your successful style.
Everybody has a successful style of working. Clarifying this style is often the clue to finding your real strengths.
This is a long but important exercise. It invites you to describe three satisfying projects you have done in your life.
The word ‘project’ can be used in its widest sense. For example: writing an article, organising a fun run, launching a web site, solving a particular problem, leading a team or whatever.
Describe each of these projects in turn. Try to be as specific as possible, especially about the things that made them satisfying. Here is the exercise.
2) You can clarify your successful style.
Looking at each of the projects, can you see any patterns? One person said, for example:
“My pattern is clear – I love building prototypes, but several characteristics stand out.
“First, I must believe the project will improve people’s lives.
“Second, I want to have in-put into clarifying the ‘What’ – the goal we want to achieve.
“Third, I like to have lots of autonomy.
"Fourth, I prefer to be aiming for a specific deadline.
“Finally, I love to see the prototype having a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Looking back on your life, can you see any recurring themes in your satisfying projects? Bearing these in mind, describe what you believe to be your successful style.
(You may, of course, have two styles. One where you are working with other people, one when you are working alone.)
Try completing the following exercise.
3) You can follow your successful style in the future.
Peak performers follow their preferred working style, which seems to get more pronounced as they get older. The person mentioned above said:
“I want to keep building prototypes, but such jobs are seldom advertised. They are filled ahead of time by people who know what is happening. So that means I must aim to do three things:
* To reach out to potential sponsors in my network.
* To identify their challenges.
* To show how the prototype will help them to succeed.
“I need to stay ahead of the game, find a potential niche and get backing to build a prototype.”
Everybody has a preferred way of working, so it is important to find and follow yours. Try completing the final part of the exercise. This can be the key to shaping a fulfilling future.
Posted on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 3:46 pm in Strengths, The Strengths Blog | RSS feed
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