Daily Leadership Thought #132 – Identify And Cultivate What Makes You Special
We all have something unique that makes us special. The Gallup Organization claims that everyone has special talents that they can do better than 10,000 other people. The key is to identify what this talent, ability, or characteristic is and then tap into it. I’ve heard other thought leaders refer to this attribute as your “uniqueability.” Organizations are no different than people. A high-performing business or nonprofit has a unique quality that enables it to excel at what it does. Once you understand why you are unique, invest further in and cultivate this attribute, elevating it to its deserved status.
If you are struggling to identify your uniqueness, ask your colleagues, employees, clients, vendors, and partners. Themes will emerge, and the story will begin to tell itself. Next, refine these themes by posing questions such as the following: So, what? What real difference does it make? Are we really that different from our competition? Why does it matter? Can we quantify the impact? Eventually, a handful of items will pass the test, and further comparative filtering will be required to identify the one powerful item. After finding the most significant trait, ask how to develop and use it.
Like people, too many organizations (and individuals) try to be what they are not or what they think they should be, rather than embracing who they truly are. Gallup calls this “trying to put in what God left out.” It’s a vicious cycle that ultimately leads to mediocrity, frustration, and disappointment. You must have the natural potential to excel or be exceptional at something. For example, I will never be a top-notch marathon runner even if I wanted to because it is not physically possible for me. Embrace who you are, invest in it, and positive things will organically happen! The good news is that we are all special in some way.
