The capability trap
Are you working to your natural strengths?
If you are a Grey’s Anatomy fan, then you may remember this quote from Meredith Grey in season 16: ‘Just because you can do something, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.’
This describes the situation I found myself in as a scientific project manager in 2015. A few years into that role, I attended a professional development residential. To prepare for the first session, I took a type of personality test called a Talent Dynamics profile. This is based on the principle that we each have an underlying talent. When we allow this to shine, we can improve how we work with others, find our ideal career pathways and create extraordinary results.
The profile I received was a shock because it sounded absolutely nothing like me. When we debriefed the report, I realised my mistake. I had answered the questions in response to my current job activities rather than how I would answer the questions if I had a choice. Looking at all the other profiles revealed that I was operating at the complete opposite end of the spectrum to my natural talents. I was in the capability trap.