HIDI

The four greatest weaknesses personally and professionally

Physiological research into the field of business performance backs up our own investigations and knowledge highlighting four weaknesses that feed off each other and have the potential to develop into serious issues and challenges.

Clearly not all have to be present at any one time, and for some the level of challenge raised by any one specific area might be irrelevant to them as an individual. However, when asking where their challenges in life stem from, in most cases each, if not all, of these four areas are highlighted as issues.

Help – Inability and fear of asking for help – this is caused by a fear of looking stupid, ignorant or weak. We all need to be clear and precise about the help we need rather than relying on someone else’s 6th sense or ability to read your mind. Clearly we must feel totally comfortable with someone to trust them enough to ask for help and have our confidence – we then need to ask the honest direct request for help with whatever it might be.

Identity – Lack of clear understanding of Identity – who you are now, what you stand for and what you are looking for. It was simple when you were an “X” – a student, a sales rep, a player, a leader, a friend but who are you today? We don’t need the shackles of society or the trimmings of materialism to have an identity – being comfortable with our own sense of identity and company is one of the greatest challenges we all face.

Direction – No clear direction, meaning that any direction will do as you have no idea where you are going in the first place. Many people talk about purpose and direction along with goal setting and understanding your “why”. Meandering through life until they put you in a box is at best an existence. In the words of Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.  “I don’t much care where,” said Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat. Where do you really want to go? That old question about leaving a legacy and what you would like to be said about you in your obituary is always a scary reality check – write it down now and see how it reads back to you.

Isolation – Isolation from peers, supporters and friends. Working and existing in isolation kills creativity and prevents simple decision making – why do you think people are put in isolation in prisons for misbehaving? We need others to spark from, to generate ideas and work with us. The little voice in our heads gets louder the more isolated we become as the mind craves interaction, while this in itself is not a problem the issue comes when we listen to the negative self-talk more than the positive talk. When someone gives you feedback both ‘positive’ and ‘areas for improvement’, immediately most people shake off the positive feedback and listen harder to the negative because we can’t possibly be all good. Can we?

Managing HIDI is a challenge for everyone – understanding there is an issue is step one be that real or potential – then action needs to be taken. I have written a great deal about building a PowerTeam, this can be an answer for many who are struggling with HIDI or being very successful but could be achieving more if the right team was supporting them. Get a PowerTeam!