“If you must say you’re king, you’re not king.”
I’m not sure when this statement first presented itself in my life. It has been used in various situations throughout my life and it’s something I often ponder for myself and for others.
To date, the most prolific application of this concept was
in mid-2019 when I worked for an insurance carrier who had a crack-shot
grouping of teams that could have achieved the best work known in the industry. Except for the senior C-Suite leadership who broke
our powerhouse into pieces and a leader whose self-awareness prickled every
cell in my body.
We had an outside influencer discussing the DISC concept
with our personalities. He was tough –
but true, I liked him. We had grouped
the teams under the specific director, under the DISC concepts, having various
exercises to teach/learn/grown with each other.
I love these types of team exercises because knowing how other work mates
learn or are motivated energizes me.
(P.S. – I was listed as an “I” in the DISC concept, but the C-Suite previously
decided I was absolutely an “S”… )
Not to be redirected
by my specific story, this day where we were all gathered, the multiple groups
(over 40 individuals) were trying to understand how to work best with each
other based on the DISC personalities.
After 3 or 4 exercises, our director, the leader of all of these individuals
and teams, in response to her C teammates individual works that day, said “Because
I’m smarter than the rest of you.”
I paused. I froze. I radiated the response of “no.” No.
If you have to say you’re the smartest person in the room … you may not be king.
As a co-worker, leader, manager, and human – the best thing
I’ve ever sought out was smarter people.
I know my knowledge base – it’s big.
It’s earned and I don’t apologize for the years of experience – but –
but – the best experience I’ve had is hiring and acknowledging people who are smarter
than I am and need to help my company, partners, or efforts of progress in the
best way.
This doesn’t diminish me.
In fact, it makes my brain hop around with happy possibilities. “But we can do this…” “Wait look at this…” “Oh, my gosh, have you seen…”
I want smarter. I want
fierce people who don’t speak like I do.
They don’t communicate as I do.
In fact, typically, they are the outcasts because they are so
different. But – do you know what they
are?
Smart.
Open.
Humble.
Ready.
Unstoppable.
So – yes – give me the people who aren’t blessed by the
corporate hand. I wasn’t.
And yet here we are.
Blessed and ready for this next adventure.
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