To be a top performer – be good at what you’re not good at

Posted: May 26, 2015 | Categories: Self-Improvement

In the mid-1700’s, there was a small businessman who was determined to be a success.  One day, his best friend confronted him and said, “You need to work better with people.  You may be able to win every argument, but you don’t know how to win friends.  Until you do, you won’t be successful”.  These stinging words were delivered to Ben Franklin early in his career.  Ben did not get defensive when he heard this.  He knew it was true, and he resolved from that point to turn the situation around.  In his autobiography, he said he totally stopped correcting people or telling them they were wrong.  He said it was very hard, and required a daily discipline.  Ben Franklin became one of our country’s founding fathers, and also one of our greatest and most respected diplomats.  He wasn’t given the gift of tact.  He had to build it.

I have found that Ben Franklin’s story is not much different than ours.  Each one of us has an important area that we need to improve upon.  If we don’t, we will fall short of our potential.  Here is an example:

Jeff is one of the finest leaders I have ever worked with.  His team is always among the consistent top performers.   People love to work for him and they give him their best.  By nature, he is a “driver”.   He is one of those “Donald Trump” types who sets his course, puts the hammer down, and moves forward with high velocity.  One of the key strengths Jeff has built in himself is patience.  As hard as it was, he developed it because he knew that to lead, he needed to be patient and sensitive to others.  His career has been an incredible success.  He was smart enough to build in himself what needed to be built, rather than just say, “That’s just the way I am”.  We can learn from Jeff (and Ben).  What is the critical area you need growth in to achieve more?

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