Andrew Thorn – The Authentic Me

Dr. Andrew Thorn provides behavioral based leadership strategies to individuals who are seeking to bring their personal and professional responsibilities into full harmony. His clients achieve more, become more and experience balanced growth for their own benefit, and for the benefit of the people they lead.

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Are You Able To Stretch Yourself Within Your Limits?

IMG_2670 I am on the plane to Sacramento again. As I sat on board prior to taking off, I flipped through Spirit Magazine, the official publication of Southwest Airlines. Near the end of magazine there is a page dedicated to informing passengers about the proper use of portable electronic devices. There are some items that are always permitted, some that are conditionally permitted and some that are never permitted. The conditional items caught my eye. They are things like digital cameras, iPods, video cameras, GPS devices, computers, DVD players, handheld game devices, PDAs and satellite radios. 

After I considered the list of conditional use items, I began to reflect on the conditions that permit their use. In order to use any of the items listed above, one simple condition must be met; the airplane must be above 10,000 feet. Until the the plane passes through that altitude, none of these tools that make my life so much more efficient and enjoyable may be used. 

How Do You See Your Boundaries?

As I pondered these individual devices and their restrictions, I began to liken them to the individual strengths that each one of us possess, and the boundaries that permit their use. I also thought about the limits we often place on ourselves in using those strengths. 

The airplane normally reaches altitudes above 10,000 feet within the first five minutes of the flight. That may seem like a major pain to some, but to me it is just a minor inconvenience. After that, I can choose for myself how I want to use any or all of the electronic devices mentioned. Some people choose to use none of these devices for the entire duration of the flight. In much the same way, I have known many who spend so much time worrying about the things that limit them, that they forget to focus on the things that bring them freedom. This usually results in their inability to use their strengths effectively.

When we learn how to use our strengths, we become more free in our environment and we become more productive. It is important to remember that it is our choice. We can either focus on our strengths and how we will use them within the boundaries that are set by the systems we work in, or we can focus on the limitations of the system, and the restrictions that they place upon us. I think it is possible to be productive under both scenarios, but it is only possible to grow under the former.

Productive Choices

One of the limits that I regularly notice is the thought; "it is not my job to be my best". I know this sounds ridiculous, but it is actually something I hear all the time. It is not usually expressed in those exact words. It is usually just simply expressed by the person saying something like, "that is not my job", or "I am not responsible for that", or my personal favorite, "I am only hired to do this right now, when I get higher up in the organization, (i.e. above 10,000 feet), then I can turn those strengths on".  

To me, this kind of thinking significantly influences the level of happiness, productivity and engagement we feel in our work and ultimately in our life. I have never met an employer who wants to limit the use of their employee's strengths. Of course there are boundaries that are in place to protect the organization. Just like the boundary for the use of electronic devices, these limits are put in place for our collective safety. 

The best leaders learns how to use all of their strengths within the boundaries. As they learn how to use their strengths under different boundaries, under different leaders and in every circumstance they face, they grow more effective and receive more attention from the organization. They don't allow the challenges of the boundaries to discourage or anger them. They simply see those challenges as opportunities to learn and grow and so they do.

Making The Most Of Your Limits

I am sure some of you find yourself faced with certain limits that seem too difficult to overcome. You may be reporting to a tyrant leader, or working for an organization with limited resources. Some of you may even find yourself suddenly unemployed and wondering if you will ever be able to use your strengths again. What can you do be free within those limits? How can use your strengths within those boundaries? What can you do to change your view of things so that 10,000 feet is "permission to soar", instead of a limit on your ability to use your greatest behaviors and characteristics to help you become your best? It is up to you. You are now free to move about the cabin.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 at 8:42 am and is filed under Personal Best Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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