{"id":11589,"date":"2022-02-07T13:57:54","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T13:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=11589"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:48:46","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:48:46","slug":"play-to-your-strengths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/play-to-your-strengths\/","title":{"rendered":"Play to Your Strengths"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want to inspire, mobilize and sustain human energy in yourself and others, is the most effective way to focus on fixing your weaknesses or developing your strengths? While you\u2019re thinking about it, consider this story:<\/p>\n

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school.<\/em><\/p>\n

They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer, all the animals took all the subjects.<\/em><\/p>\n

The duck was excellent at swimming. In fact, he was better than his instructor! However, he only passed flying and was very poor at running. Since he was so slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to be badly worn, so he became only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, and nobody except the duck worried about it.<\/em><\/p>\n

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because he had so much makeup work to do in swimming.<\/em><\/p>\n

The squirrel was excellent at climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed a charley horse from overexertion, so he only got a C in climbing and a D in running.<\/em><\/p>\n

And then there was the eagle, who was considered the problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes, he beat all the others to the top but insisted on using his own way to get there.<\/em><\/p>\n

Can you see yourself in the story? Perhaps you\u2019re one of the animals who feels compelled to be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Or maybe you\u2019re the school\u2019s instructor, who struggles with the prospect of trying to create a group of well-rounded students.<\/p>\n

According to surveys, the odds are you\u2019re not a lucky duck who is allowed every day to do what you do best, such as swim. In the 1950s, management consultant Peter Drucker first highlighted the importance of focusing on the development of individual and collective strengths. Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton echoed that message in their 2001 book, \u201cNow, Discover Your Strengths.\u201d But sadly, most people think they don\u2019t have the opportunity to play to their strengths at work consistently.<\/p>\n

Throughout our professional careers and lifetimes, both of us were repeatedly reminded that we are uniquely gifted. The uniqueness informed our vocational and non-vocational choices and motivated us to pursue specific accomplishments and results. Most importantly, we discovered that when we bring our gifts to a job or role that requires them, we are the most productive, the most satisfied and the most successful. When we pour our energies into what we are gifted to do, we get more energy back.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s starting to sound a bit like \u201cflow,\u201d isn\u2019t it?!<\/p>\n

The Ties Between Flow\u00a0and Our Strengths<\/h3>\n

Flow involves feeling fully aware, alive and in the moment without self-criticism or distraction. It centers around activities we find inherently valuable and where we can be incredibly focused. It\u2019s an optimal state of feeling and performing at our best.<\/p>\n

So, if mastering flow<\/a> is a path to high engagement and performance, building on our strengths can enhance the process. The upside, we believe, is that for most people, working on developing strengths is more appealing and fun than trying to overcome weaknesses.<\/p>\n

According to business consultant Jack Zenger, compelling data supports the idea that when adults focus on their strengths, they will have far greater success in their personal development. He contends that miraculous results can be achieved if people maximize their strengths and then put in the required study and practice.<\/p>\n

Keeping in mind the connection between mastering flow and playing to our strengths, we\u2019ll offer four thoughts and ideas to you as potential next steps.<\/p>\n

Adopt a Strengths Mindset<\/h3>\n

Embrace Buckingham\u2019s idea that \u201cEach person\u2019s greatest room for growth is in the areas of his or her greatest strength.\u201d This means letting go of the more common but flawed assumption that \u201cEach person\u2019s greatest room for growth is in his or her areas of greatest weakness.\u201d Doing it can be tricky since much of our educational and work experiences might have centered on addressing gaps in our skills and competencies.<\/p>\n

Discover Your Strengths<\/h3>\n

Understanding how you\u2019re made is the key to discovering what you\u2019re made to do. Here are assessments we\u2019ve used over the years to become more aware of our strengths:<\/p>\n