In a recent episode of the break through HBO series, "True Blood," leading humanist vampire Bill Compton defends his nature to his human love interest, Sookie Stackhouse, by saying, "but I'm a vampire...I'm supposed to be tormented." Relying solely on his limited self-understanding and worldview, Bill is obviously seeing himself as incapable of a more emotionally rich and pleasurable life...a phenomenon many of us are all too familiar with. Watching Bill's plight play out during this episode I reflected on what other inconceivable possibilities that, over his 173 years of vampire experience, he might be well suited for? Tenured history professor? Award-winning author? Executive at The Red Cross? OK, maybe that one is a bit of a stretch but my point is this, how often do we, like Bill Compton, limit our possibilities in life because of our own bounded rationality? In other words, how often do we see ourselves as having a lack of intelligence or ability and, therefore, limit our possibilities?
When coaching leaders I often witness similar examples of bounded rationality in my clients, most commonly from perceiving themselves as lacking in ability or intelligence. However, in almost all cases nothing could be further from the truth. While people do vary in their intellectual capacities and have differing abilities and personality types, in my 22 years of professional experience I have yet to find someone who can't expand their pie of possibility and overcome these limiting perceptions of themselves. By committing to a process of self-exploration using a few well validated resources, most can overcome these limiting perceptions. Three of the resources that I normally use when coaching a person through these limiting perceptions are:
The first is the theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner. Gardner's theory expands our understanding beyond IQ as the only measure of one's intelligence to more than eight validated forms of human intelligence all prevalent in society today. Understanding our unique intelligence allows us to understand that, what we once thought of as barriers or limitations, are actually weaker forms of intelligence within us. This understanding empowers us to shift our focus away from weaker forms of intelligence toward our preferred intelligence(s) increasing personal effectiveness and motivation. Once we realize what our intelligence(s) are and what they aren't, we can use the next resource to put this knowledge into strategic practice.
The next resource that should be considered is the entire body of research commonly referred to as "Personal Strength Theory". After identifying our strengths and our weaknesses, modern strength theory compels us to place the majority of our effort toward developing our strengths, therefore, debunking the past notion of "well-rounded" development for all. Once we focus more fully on our strengths we continue to gain confidence, fulfillment and inner motivation as we move toward a more natural state of being commonly referred to as "Flow." Once establishing our strengths and unique intelligence, the last resources helps us to place this knowledge into our natural personality style.
The last resources to consider as part of this triune strategy are psychometric assessments, particularly the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI allows us to plumb the depths of established personality theory further identifying who we are via one of sixteen personalities. Once claiming one of the validated personality styles, we learn what behavioral and attitudinal tendencies are central to that personality and how best to express this central persona in our work and life. This practice allows us to express our most skillful tendencies in most work-related and personal situations therefore reaching a heightened state of self-confidence and individual accomplishment.
Rather than casting ourselves into a life of torment such as Bill Compton, the use of these resources can introduce us to the possibility that exists within us all and, therefore, help us to reach a life of confidence and fulfillment.
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In other words, how often do we see ourselves as having a lack of intelligence or ability and, therefore, limit our possibilities?
Posted by: Leadership Styles | August 04, 2010 at 01:02 PM