Instead of breeding undifferentiated, average ‘homo corectus’, wouldn’t it be better to encourage the development of outstanding and complementary ‘homo distinctus’?
Most of us have been educated in a system that looks at averages and at skills gaps (the low scores).
Prolonged in the corporate world, and projected on the corporate ladder, this creates a species of ‘homo corectus’, literally “the corrected one”.
Bred under the dogmatic mental model that anyone who has the good intention to grow, learn, and develop to the next level, should focus on one critical thing: wipe their weaknesses.
But that leads to suboptimal individual growth and incomplete team contribution. And neither you nor your team will be at full potential. Here are the 3 reasons why: (1) decreased distinctiveness, (2) intrinsic demotivation, and (3) reduced need for cooperation.
- Decreased distinctiveness.
Correcting weaknesses, in the eventuality you succeed in doing so, makes you average. Now, who wants to be average? On the opposite, taking one of your best strengths, and developing it even further, sharper, and stronger, pulls you farther away from ‘being average’. It marks your distinctiveness, makes you unique, associates you with that very strong skill. In short, you stand out with your sharpened strength; you look average with your wiped weakness.
- Intrinsic demotivation.
Spending time on erasing weaknesses is not exciting, because it makes us work on things we don’t like. Skills we don’t have are often the result of areas we don’t like. Spending time on our weaknesses brings massive frustration and banalises failure. On the opposite, working on sharpening your existing best strengths is fun and brings excitement. If it’s an area you’re good at, there is a grand chance you are passionate about it, so you will love to learn and grow in those strong areas.
- Reduced need for cooperation.
A team composed of ‘homo corectus’ will be far from its full potential, average in all areas, and with more inclination towards internal competition than cooperation. On the opposite, sharpened strengths and differentiated spikes foster cooperation within teams. Teaming up becomes a true necessity, complementarity surpasses competition. Furthermore, when you’re distinctively strong in one area or skill, you become attractive, your presence in the team is (more) desired.
Instead of breeding undifferentiated, average ‘homo corectus’, wouldn’t it be better to encourage the development of the ‘homo distinctus’, literally “the one that stands out”?
Take Lionel Messi. As a footballer in a forward playing position, he is supposed to demonstrate skills and work rate. Skills: right foot 5/10, left foot 10/10, header 5/10. Not that impressive (yes but what a left foot!). Work rate: defending when lost possession 5/10, distance covered per game 5/10, and we’re very generous on this latter score. All 5’s and one 10, that’s rather poor (yes but what a left foot!).
What we suggest to our corporate clients is to massively switch the focus during evaluations and feedback (and to a lesser extent promotions and career perspectives) from ‘correcting’ one’s weaknesses to ‘building distinctive’ strengths. Know their left foot, praise their left foot, make them use their left foot, sharpen their left foot. And you’ll get (1) increased distinctiveness, (2) intrinsic motivation, and (3) enhanced cooperation. Good for you, good for your teams, good for your company!
The concept sounds nice, but implementing it seems less straightforward? Contact us if you want more info on our interventions in companies with respect to inspirational leadership.
Be inspired.