Follow Our Strength
"There is a Japanese proverb that literally goes ‘Raise the sail with your stronger hand,' meaning you must go after the opportunities that arise in life that you are best equipped to do." ~Soichiro Honda
Have you ever taken on a task at work that you weren’t particularly well suited to do? Perhaps you volunteered for it because you thought it would be an interesting challenge. Did it turn out as well as you hoped?
I have pulled interesting challenges into my career, and they don’t always turn out well.
During my engineering career I worked at a dynamic company where each person end up wearing many hats. The various hats often fell outside of our skilled discipline.
Occasionally, the company needed someone to complete a task but couldn’t find the right person to do it. When this happens, they invariably ask around for volunteers.
Volunteering for a job, and performing well at a job are two different skill sets. Those that volunteer want one of two things: a bigger challenge, or an enhancement on their resume. They don’t often volunteer because they are already talented at it. If they were, the company would go to them directly, and add it to their job description. A volunteer is needed because there is no one who exactly fits the skill set needed.
Whenever I volunteered to take on a task outside my regular job, I usually wanted both: a bigger challenge and an enhancement to my resume. That is how I discovered and started designing user interfaces.
That one worked out. However, other small jobs didn’t always turn out well. Some ended with me stressed and overworked. And the stress was simply because I got myself in over my head.
Luckily that was years ago.
Now I can safely say I make decisions based on my interest and my strengths. I use my “stronger hand” to complete tasks, and get others to do those I am less talented at doing (or that I don’t have time to do, or don’t enjoy it enough to do.).
If you are in a time in your career where you are looking to improve your position on the corporate ladder. Choose your duties wisely. Be conscious of your decision. Follow your strength. Listen to your body, and don’t over commit.
--Tina Su
Photo by Nicholas T.
"There is a Japanese proverb that literally goes ‘Raise the sail with your stronger hand,' meaning you must go after the opportunities that arise in life that you are best equipped to do." ~Soichiro HondaHave you ever taken on a task at work that you weren’t particularly well suited to do? Perhaps you volunteered for it because you thought it would be an interesting challenge. Did it turn out as well as you hoped?
I have pulled interesting challenges into my career, and they don’t always turn out well.
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