How Do You Use Your Guru’s Advice?
If you’re like me (and if you’re reading this, I know you are), you read a lot of tips and tricks. Tips and tricks for being more effective. Tips and tricks for being a better leader…a stronger presenter…a superior speaker…super mom…super dad…marathoner…and the list goes on.
For instance, one of the trendy coaching tricks of late is to be someone’s accountability partner, helping someone to keep their commitments. If you’ve been keeping up with my posts, you know how I feel about that. It just doesn’t work for me. However, my goal here is to broaden the awareness of what works for you beyond what style of coaching you prefer.
As you absorb advice from any expert or guru, always assess whether their nugget of insight works for you or not:
Have you done similar things with success in the past?
Does it sound doable and realistic for you?
Is it a small change (big ones don’t last)?
Will your environment support the change?
Does the idea give you energy?
If you’ve tried an approach multiple times with limited success, consider that the technique isn’t right for you. If you just can’t put in the effort needed to master a particular method, consider that you’re not flawed, but still learning to work to how you’re designed. Your subconscious may simply be better informed regarding your own unique capabilities. If the standard you’re trying to live up to just doesn’t fit you, then maybe the impression you’re trying to make really isn’t worth the investment.
If you still find yourself bouncing from advisor to advisor, or reading endless “Top Ten Ways To Be a Perfect Human Being” lists. It’s likely because your self-knowledge isn’t yet strong enough for you to trust your instincts. Start asking the hard questions above and truly owning who you are.
Oh, and don’t think that things will get easy just because you’re leveraging your inherent design. That’s when the real work starts; endlessly honing your talents and making the contribution that only you can make.
