Friday, August 29, 2008 11:10 PM
Geeks in general have issues with people perceiving them poorly. I know 'cause I r one. There was a point in my career where I hit a wall that I could not see. I had (I thought) good ideas, but no one listened so I pushed harder to no avail.
After my boss took me aside and coached me gradually, I realized after a year or more that I was the problem. I was so caught up in my own world that I forgot I was surrounded by smart, intuitive people that actually wanted to know me for me. I tried so hard to be someone else that I left out the best part, me.
I have made noticeable progress to being more open and courageous with my own inner self. These things help to think about often.
- Find someone to be a mirror.
- Find someone to mimic (just the good not the bad)
- Be willing to make mistakes and experience pain.
- Accept mistakes, admit them, but don't repeat.
- Listen to what people are not telling you verbally (non-verbal cues).
Attempting to understand how people perceive you without becoming too self-involved is key to growth. Just today, I was working with a co-worker and loudly exclaimed "that is wrong, just wrong". My friend immediately and jokingly commented that I could say something different that was not so inflammatory like "that is an interesting way to do that". At the time it irritated me, but later I realized he was right and I need to think more before I speak. An amazingly simple verbiage change can have a massive, exponential affect on those around you.
Growing hurts, so does life... hint, you don't make it out alive so enjoy your gifts, use them to their fullest. People out there want to know the you that could be.
rusty