Last week we talked about dusting and our development.  This week I’d like us to reflect on ourselves, who we are, the value we bring, and tools for doing projects around the house.

Every year my wife and I choose a few projects to do around the house.  Some projects are bigger and require us to get help.  Some projects are small.  No matter what the project is one of the first things we do is figure out what tools we will need.  We then grab the tools and use them, understanding that one tool can’t do everything.  A hammer is a great hammer, but a horrible screwdriver.  Essentially, every tool has its own unique purpose and function.  In order to be successful, you need to have a collection of tools, because they all have their place and time when they are needed.

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with anything.  I don’t know about you, but from time to time I still struggle with who I am and where I fit and the value this has to a team or group.  To continue with the analogy, sometimes I look around to see a world full of wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, etc. and say, “Do I need to be a wrench?  Should I be a hammer?  Maybe I should be a pair of pliers…”  Instead, what I should be doing is reflecting on what kind of tool I am and what I bring to the table. 

This was worse when I was younger and earlier in my career.  As I’ve grown up I’ve learned more about who I am, but still I have my doubts at times.  Over time, I’ve come to realize that in the grand scheme of things, I’m a tool that is part of a larger toolset that can be used to build things and solve problems.  For example, if I’m a drill, then I have certain things that I do well and certain things I don’t do as well.  My goal is to be the best drill I can be.  As I focus on trying to be the best drill I can be, I have to not get distracted by trying to become a wrench.  It doesn’t make sense for a drill to be a wrench when they have different strengths and functions.  At the same time, I need to be honest with myself and understand that not all problems can be solved by a drill.  Instead, sometimes the best person for a job is a tape measure, wrench, hammer, screwdriver, etc.  This small change in thinking has helped me appreciate others more and appreciate myself more. 

Another connection in the analogy is that as a leader, your job is to figure out how to solve problems, which means that the first thing you need to do is understand what tools you need and how to use those tools to solve the problems before you.  The main difference from doing household projects is that it’s not so easy to determine what you need.  It’s not like you have instructions telling you which tools you will need to complete the project.  Instead, you need to be willing to look at the problem from a variety of ways and then figure out how to leverage people and their gifts to figure things out.  You need to know when you need a screwdriver and when you already have one and could use a tape measure.

The challenge: Do you know who you are?  Do you know your strengths and weaknesses?  Do you leverage your strengths?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry