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Turn Your Liabilities Into Abilities

February 22nd, 2012

Jean Gatz Standout StrategiesBy Motivational Keynote Speaker Jean Gatz

Now we come to the hardest part of implementing my Success Equation in your work and life. It’s time to commit to a plan for self-improvement to overcome any limitations standing in the way of achieving the results you want. Without a doubt, it takes a lot more confidence to identify and “claim” your limitations than it does to focus only on your strengths.

Can you relate to this statement?  “I feel ‘good’ when I’m using my strengths and ‘bad’ when I think about my limitations.” Here’s my advice. Stop feeling “bad” because you aren’t perfect. Who is? So you have a few flaws, some skills that aren’t up to par, and a couple of personality traits that drive people crazy. Who doesn’t? The good news is that your limitations do not have to define you. They are simply your personal set of unique challenges, and you can choose to do something about them.

As you can see by now, all three parts of the Success Equation don’t require the same amount of effort. Utilizing your strengths is fairly easy. Learning new skills is challenging, but you’ve done it before so you know you can do it again. Overcoming limitations, however, is hard work! It starts with taking an honest look at what’s really going on inside you, and admitting exactly what’s keeping you from your goal to STAND OUT in a positive way.

Part three is also the most revealing and satisfying part of the Success Equation. So don’t give in to the temptation to avoid, ignore, or make excuses for NOT learning everything you can to be a better person, friend, spouse, partner, parent, colleague, co-worker, leader or follower.

If you think that focusing only on your strengths is enough, ask yourself:

  1. Can you rely on your strengths alone to get you where you want to go?
  2. Will others always be willing to overlook your flaws and focus only on your strengths?

In a perfect world, the answer to both questions would be “yes.” But we don’t live and work in a perfect world. In the real world your strengths won’t get you through every situation. And instead of ignoring all your flaws, the people who count on you will expect you to be willing to improve in certain areas. So you must decide how to turn your limitations – your liabilities – into abilities.

First, decide which limitations are truly obstacles to your success. Then work on what’s really important and don’t feel guilty about the rest. Work on being better, not perfect. All of us can get better. None of us will ever be perfect! Got questions or comments? I’d love to hear from you! jean@jeangatz.com.

© 2012 Jean Gatz CSP   www.jeangatz.com

Topics: 10 ways to stand out from the crowd, Blog, change, Leveraging Your Strengths, skill building, stand out from the crowd | No Comments »


Six Tips for Adopting New SKILLS

February 15th, 2012

Jean Gatz Standout StrategiesBy Motivational Keynote Speaker Jean Gatz

So now you’ve figured out what skills you need to add to get the results you want – in your work and in your life. (If you missed last week’s blog you can catch up here.)

But wait! You’ve also figured out that learning these new skills is going to require extra time and effort in your already busy life. Instead of giving up before you even get started, get creative about how you will learn the skills you need to STAND OUT in a positive way. You can choose to:

  1. Learn the skill yourself. If you know that learning this skill is absolutely necessary to get the results you want AND you know you have the ability master it, then go for it.
  2. Collaborate and share skills. Sometimes skills are easier to learn when you can bounce ideas around, watch others in action and share information. Get a group together and start learning from each other.
  3. Trade skills with someone. One person’s learned skill is often another person’s strength. Find the right person and trade on your strengths. You each get to do what you enjoy, help each other, and learn from each other’s expertise.
  4.  Invest in skill resources: Technology can help you integrate many skills into your life. Is there a tool or software program that can do the job? Check with those who’ve mastered the skill you’re working on and ask what resources helped them most.
  5. Delegate the skill to someone on your team who specializes in this area AND whose job description includes these tasks. Don’t confuse delegating with pushing your work off on someone else. There’s a big difference between unloading your work on others and delegating to the appropriate person.
  6. Hire people who already have the skills you need. They would love nothing more than to get paid to do what you don’t want to do. Be selective. Their performance will often reflect on you, and you will ultimately be responsible for the outcome.

These last two may not be options for you at this time. But whatever option you choose, remember that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you don’t give yourself enough credit for the skills you already possess! Even though I consider speaking and writing books some of my greatest strengths, there are other skills I need to make my strengths marketable and add value for my clients. But I’m honest enough to admit that learning every skill might not be the best use of my time. So I trade skills, collaborate with others, and invest in resources to fill the gaps.

Think about the skills you want to add and which of these options would work for you. There’s always more than one way to get anything done! Next week we’ll talk about Part 3 – the final part of the Success Equation. So stay tuned!

Got questions or comments? Email jean@jeangatz.com.  

© 2012 Jean Gatz CSP   www.jeangatz.com

Topics: 10 ways to stand out from the crowd, Blog, Business as usual is over, change, skill building | No Comments »


Need a Boost?

February 8th, 2012

Jean Gatz Standout StrategiesAdd the Right SKILLS to Your Strengths

By Motivational Keynote Speaker Jean Gatz

If you identified your strengths after reading last week’s blog, you noticed that you’ve needed more than just your strengths to be successful in work and life. And you’re right! Very few strengths can stand on their own without some great skills to back them up. Strengths are important, but combining them with the right skills will take you to a whole new level. And that brings us to Part Two of the Success Equation: Develop strong skills that support and complement your strengths.

What’s the difference between strengths and skills? Your strengths come easily, but that’s not necessarily true for skills. Every skill you have today was learned and practiced over time. Your skills represent the time and effort you’ve put in to accept new ideas, behaviors and information – and then add them to your skill set.

Some skills were easy to learn because they reinforced your existing strengths. You caught on without much effort. Other skills were fairly difficult to master. They required serious effort. You had to stretch far to learn (or try to learn) those skills. And there are still more skills you’ll need to add if you want to STAND OUT from the crowd in a positive way.

People often ask me: “OK, Jean, what skills should I go after first? There aren’t enough hours in the day to learn everything there is to know about my job, my relationships, my health and my life.”

I couldn’t agree more! You may choose to learn new skills that will make you a better leader, colleague, co-worker, partner, spouse, parent or friend. Even if you choose only ONE of those categories, it will take time. Strong skills are important, but not EVERY skill is important for you to learn right now. So where do you start? You must be very selective. You start by asking yourself this very important question: WHAT RESULTS DO I WANT?

In next week’s blog we’ll look at how to determine what skills you need to add – and when – and how. So stay tuned! And I’d love to know how you’re coming along with identifying your strengths so far. Were there any encouraging surprises when you asked others for their feedback? Email jean@jeangatz.com and let me know!

© 2012 Jean Gatz CSP www.jeangatz.com

Topics: 10 ways to stand out from the crowd, Blog, Business as usual is over, Leveraging Your Strengths, stand out from the crowd | No Comments »


Your Equation for Success!

February 1st, 2012

Jean Gatz Standout Strategiesby Motivational Keynote Speaker Jean Gatz

Are you good at Math? It’s definitely not one of my strong suits. In fact, I’m convinced that my Algebra teacher gave me a passing grade – out of pity and fear. I didn’t “get” equations, and if I failed (as I should have) I might end up in his class for another semester. But there’s one equation that I DO understand very well – because I created it. I call it the 3-part Success Equation:  Strengths + Skills + Self Improvement = Success!  And part  one is your STAND OUT tip for this month:  Leverage your Strengths.

No matter who you are or what you do, utilizing your strengths to your best advantage is one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make. In fact, you and your organization should capitalize on your strengths at every opportunity. It’s not only a cost-effective strategy, but it helps create a team of people who truly enjoy their jobs and excel at whatever they do.

Your strengths come naturally, give you immense satisfaction and create confidence in your abilities. No wonder it feels great to focus on them! It’s almost impossible NOT to feel successful, happy and “inspired” when you’re putting them to good use. So the first question to ask is: WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?

When I ask audiences in my keynotes and workshops to make a list of their strengths, many of them struggle with this task. It’s much easier for them to list all the things they can’t do, wish they could do, don’t do, are afraid to do, or have done wrong.

While no one likes a show-off, acknowledging your strengths has nothing to do with bragging and boasting. It involves taking a realistic look at your gifts and talents to make sure you’re using them to accomplish your personal and professional goals.  So…what are YOUR strengths? In what areas do you excel? Make a list. Write them down. Then ask others for their feedback. You’ll be surprised at the strengths others may see in you that you may not see in yourself.

Or maybe you take your strengths for granted because they come easily, so you assume that everyone can do what you do. But that’s not always the case. Although I can speak in front of thousands and write books with ease, I could never excel at some of the jobs my friends have because we don’t share the same strengths. In fact, I would be a total failure!

Everyone has different strengths that contribute to who they are. If you can’t identify them and integrate them into your personal and professional life, you’ll never get to where you want to be. And no one else will take notice of them either.

As a leader it’s important to know that people’s strengths come to the surface in safe, healthy and trusting environments. So if you want to develop and sustain a successful team in which people perform to the best of their abilities, then you must help create an environment in which they have the incentive to bring their very best to the table.  That’s how you and your organization will STAND OUT from the Crowd.

I’ll continue writing about the 3-Part Success Equation in my weekly blog this month. If you want to learn how to develop the skills you’re lacking, or how to turn your liabilities into abilities, sign up for my blog here so you don’t miss anything!

And if you’re planning an event, let’s work together to make sure it STANDS OUT like nothing you’ve ever done before! Email me today at jean@jeangatz.com or simply pick up the phone and give me a call now at 225.907.4138.

©2012   Jean Gatz, CSP   All Rights Reserved

 

Topics: 10 ways to stand out from the crowd, Blog, Business as usual is over, Leveraging Your Strengths, stand out from the crowd | No Comments »