Applying your strengths

There are a lot of business books on discovering your strengths and learning your all encompassing traits.

I took the Strength's Finder's test five years ago. It told me this:

• I was: Strategic
• Input
• Intellection
• Ideation
• Maximer
• Responsibility

Hmmm. Luckily for each identifier, it provided a paragraph of explanation. Pulling a collection of characteristics from the various pages, it told me this:

• I see patterns for solution or development

• I am intrigued when seeing disparate phenomena can be linked by an obsure or hidden connection

• I like learning new things and collecting information

• I like to stretch and challenge myself intellectually

• I seek people who draw on their strengths and am not satisfied with average

• I am dependable always striving to do what I say i will

Not bad.

It only seemed to scratch the surface however and didn't really offer more information how to put these strengths to use or market my ability. Many books and organizations can get close to the above information - and surprisingly so with their quick multiple choice questions - but they don't tell you what's next.

I have a feeling that's because for every person, the "what's next" is very different, right?

This is what got me more interested in partnering with Emotional Intelligence. Frank, creator of Pi³™, places your strengths within the context of where they exisit. Your strengths manifest in a few places: within the processing power of your brain (thinking), with (feeling), and in executing tasks (doing). These moments tie directly to when you're by yourself, with others, in large groups, and within the community and world at large.

Your strengths are anchored within a matrix that is very much your own where they are exhibted uniquely.

What should we do about it?

Here comes the fun part and how Frank and I work together. Remember from above where "I see patterns and am intrigued by disparate phenomena"?

Yeah, I solve problems.

I connect the dots and see gaps not apparent to others.

Through understanding of your goals and how you work now, I can outline a plan and identify the next steps needed for you to go forward successfully. Frank tunes my suggestions for your unique character to make how you'll work be better for you - easier, enjoyable, excelling.

You won't do something if it seems like a chore. You for sure won't do it right away. You want to work within your realm, withing your hardwired strengths. It's natural. Human. It's right.

Contact me to learn more.

the process of product development

Good products and great solutions don’t ‘just happen’. The process of product development is just as important as the results.

How is this possible, you might ask?

There is a phrase I use when praising slow food and when talking about product development; here it is: garbage in, garbage out.

It takes specific deliberation to overcome obstacles, create a product that your customer wants, to solve the problems your client didn’t even know existed, to delight your clients into sustained business, and to bring autonomy into your workforce.

I used to have a naysayer on every team I led. You probably have a few yourself... or maybe it's YOU!

I've learned over the years that there is always a solution and with structured deliberation combined with calculations, package studies and even a few prototype tests, one can overcome even the most difficult of challenges.

What are you facing?

What's wrong

There is a lot of focus on fixing what is wrong in our businesses.

Mistakes

Failures

PPM

Inefficiency

Fat

I do this in my business. In fact, I get a lot of business to come in to ‘fix’ what is wrong.

As a kid I learned fast to make do with what I was given. I learned to make do with what was known. I learned how to fix what was broken. I learned that their is always a positive solution.

I still apply this thinking and these lessons today making something work or developing something new with known quantities and information. Even in development, we know a lot – and are simply leveraging the little bit we know to solve or create something unique.

I dare say in focusing on what is ‘safe’, to focus on what is ‘great’, we thereby focus on what makes us strong as well as the strengths of others.

By focusing on what is good and expanding on what makes you great now, we can move forward to an even better place.

A better place to work.

A better colleague to work with.

A better team to leverage.

A better product.

A bigger bank account.

damage control

One of the first steps in correcting a problem is reducing the damage the current situation is causing. This involves protecting the customer, protecting employees, seeking out all the affected product, and taking extra steps to ensure bad product is discovered while production continues.

What about public perception and communication?

If you've ever been involved with correcting an issue with a customer, and I'm pretty sure if you're reading this, you have, you well know that communication to your customer is vital.

Communication to those unaffected is vital as well.

Transparency is a huge relationship and trust builder.

Check out this report from Gerson Lehrman Group to hear what industry experts have to say about the recent Toyota product failures.

What are your customers and others saying about you?

as a side note - I think this is one of the best internet articles regarding the Toyota recall