There’s a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things.
Stop us if you’ve heard that one before. It’s an easy trap to fall into – thinking that the way that works for you is the way that will work for everyone else.
But let’s face facts. The way that works for you will work for many. But it won’t work for everyone. And in excluding those who operate in a different way, or by making those people work against their instincts, you will inevitably cause more stress for less production.
We all have different strengths and unique ways of taking action. Some people naturally organize by creating systems for everything. Others thrive by developing shortcuts to those systems. If you force the latter to fit perfectly into working within those systems, they may try to do so. They may even find success, especially if they are smart and motivated. But over time, if someone has to work against their natural ways of problem solving, they will struggle…and they will burn out.
A simple example many can relate to was offered by Kolbe Corp CEO David Kolbe in the bestselling book Do More, More Naturally:
David’s Story
One of my kids showed an early interest and talent in math. Both in and outside of school, he sought ways to explore the subject. He naturally learned the concepts and rules, then experimented by applying them in ways different than he’d been taught. Sometimes it worked, other times it didn’t. Either way, the process fascinated him.
His love of numbers continued to grow until he had a teacher who insisted her students not only understand the concepts she taught, but also apply them using her method only. It wasn’t enough to show your work and get the correct answer. If students got the right answer but their work showed a method other than hers, she marked it wrong–even if they had previously demonstrated they understood her method and even if the child’s method proved to be a more advanced way to get to the correct answer.
As you might imagine, this did not go over well with an eleven-year-old. It felt wrong, unfair, and punitive. This teacher’s method of instruction managed to squash my son’s interest in math. When he got to do it in a way that was natural for him, he enjoyed it. But when he was forced to use math in a way counter to his natural approach, the subject became dull, and he lost his drive.
The experience didn’t make him less smart about math. (Albert Einstein himself famously left school at the age of 15 due, at least in part, to rigid school curriculum!) My son easily completed the work, and he learned to play the game so he could receive a good grade. But he no longer wanted to do math outside of school. As he continued in his education, he took advanced classes in math and excelled in them because they played a role in his larger academic goals. Still, he never again pursued the subject outside of school or considered careers that relied heavily on math skills. The idea of doing math beyond what was required was now torture.
The thing is, in almost all other respects, this woman was a great teacher. She cared about her students and put in extra hours to help those who lagged behind as well as the ones with high potential whose approach matched her own. She knew her subject well, and students who naturally approached math her way, thrived.
This is not an uncommon story. Talented, motivated people are pushed in the wrong direction (often by those with good intentions) every day. It happens in schools. It happens in families. And it happens in the workplace…way too often!
So, what should we do when “the right way” is wrong?
As an individual, it’s important to gain the clarity and confidence to pursue your own path using your strengths rather than letting others push you away from them.
As a leader, it’s essential to stay informed and involved in how your team members instinctively operate.
Either way, the best place to start is by taking the Kolbe A™ Index.
Don’t forget to grab your copy of Do More, More Naturally today! Click the image below to learn more.
