"Mind the Gap" is likely to be a phrase that will haunt the world for a long time - keep 2m away from people at all times! .
Which is why it is possibly a great time to apply it elsewhere, particularly within the context of how we relate to and work with each other. The simple truth is that people do not get up in the morning to fail. People do not try and be difficult. They just want to be understood and be allowed to bring their contribution to the table.
It is all they have.
If you think back to the elephant example, each person is not only accurately sharing what they see, but their sense of value is inextricably linked to having their view accepted. So to reject what they are saying, in the belief that a single person can see and do everything, is a potentially fatal rejection of the importance of what they see and a rejection of the value they bring. It is not wonder that people get upset.
Some just hide it better than others.
The challenge, as this clip so clearly articulates, is how to connect each person's reality in a way that will engage both the individual while adding value to the collective.
Have another look at your top CliftonStrengths Signature themes. Every single talent theme determines what you like to focus on and what is important to you (in rank order). More importantly, the pure nature of the talent enables you to quickly and easily see very specific details. What you see is your truth and represents the exceptional value you bring. But it is not the full picture. Ever. With experience and time, your ability to refine both what you see and its accuracy will improve but it still only ever represents part of the picture.
And you need to know which part.
Mining the richness of what people see will always lead to greater effectiveness both individually and collectively. It is why trusting what someone else sees, when you cannot see it, is so key to effective collaboration and performance.
So take some time to read through the Signature themes of the people you work with closely. Can you - and do you - trust what they see? Do you listen?
