Polishing the diamond
Find the diamond and polish it for all it’s worth.
This was the advice my partner, Michelle, gave me in the context of writing.
She would sometimes say I had four articles in one piece, ask me what my main point was, and encourage me to singularly polish it.
In writing, the diamond is the central theme, the salient contribution to the reader.
And as for writing, so too for people.
When I conduct interviews with managers and frontline team members, I often ask what they love about their jobs. In many cases, they become energetic with shining eyes as they describe the work they enjoy. This indicates a potential diamond strength: something the person needs to continue to explore, develop, and apply in the workplace.
There are also hidden diamonds.
I was consulting with a company and one of the staff members was in a back-of-house administration role. As I got to know her, I noticed her coming alive anytime she was speaking with customers and co-workers. I suggested to the business owner to try her in a sales role. She absolutely flourished and within twelve months more than doubled sales.
For ourselves, and those we manage, having supportive pathways and structures for growth is essential to honing and refining strengths. And just like writing, eliminating what detracts is equally important.
What is the diamond strength you’re leaning into and refining right now, or could be, through learning, practice and application? How can you pursue and more fully engage in it and then how can you help others discover and encourage their pursuit of it?
When we identify and polish this diamond for all its worth, it becomes part of our key contribution to the engagers and readers of our lives.
Ray
Hopefully, I found the diamond in this piece and if you liked it, I’d love to know by your click on the heart. And thanks as always for reading.
ray@rayhodge.com.au; www.rayhodge.com.au; +61 403 341 105
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