Getting Stuff Done
In my younger years I loved to take on multiple projects and get involved in everything I could. It had a lot of positives and opened up a lot of opportunities. It taught me to work hard and I learnt a lot about myself and others. This tendency to throw myself into things also exposed many ‘growth opportunity’ areas. Some of these were defining moments. Some I have worked on and changed and some I am still working on. One pivotal lesson still carries a sting in the remembrance. It came from one of my favourite teachers’ as they expressed their disappointment when I did not deliver on a commitment. His stinging rebuke was kindly delivered in a single sentence, stopping my cascade of apologies and explanations dead in their tracks. He simply put up his hand, to get me to pause, and said, “Michael, The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
That sunk deep.
It hurt, as only truth, kindly spoken and well delivered, can.
I wanted to do better. Be better.
I have reflected back on that moment many times, through many different lenses. My relentless need for action took root there. My need to do the best I possibly can and maximise opportunities found fertile soil. So did my fear of failure and subsequent tendency to procrastinate and get paralysed. The classic cartoon image of an angel in one ear and the devil in the other became my reality.
The ‘angel’ would truthfully reason on the power of taking action; the need to say no up front; the need to ask for help; pointing me ever towards the person I want to be. The ‘devil’ would counter with part-truths, wielding the tools of fear, doubt and insecurity. “If you take action immediately you might fail. Think about it a bit more”; “If you say “no” they won't like you/trust you/ask you again/think you’re weak”; “Asking for help is a sign of weakness and shows your incompetence. They’ll discover you’re just an imposter.”
Taking the Gallup Strengths Assessment was immensely helpful. It put words around these traits. For example, “Activator” has a need to act. “Maximiser” strives for excellence and literally wants to maximise all opportunities. “Input” wants to gather as much information and resources as possible. “Learner” wants to understand and learn from each experience. “Communication” and “Includer” want to discuss and involve as many people as possible. Being more aware of these, and being able to better identify and understand them, helps to use my strengths to plan and deliver.
We all have strengths. It is how we use them that determines the results. In “strengths speak” we refer to levels of maturity. The better you understand yourself, your strengths and how to use them, the easier it becomes to choose which ‘voice’ to listen to in your head.
I have discovered that action leads to motivation - not the other way around. ‘Doing and reviewing’ increases the learning process and allows you to move forward faster and more intelligently. Gathering information and consulting is good and necessary but ‘production before perfection’ ensures forward momentum.
What “truths” do you need to listen to and act on to maximise your strengths?
