Welcome feedback on my recent TEDx talk

[cyfanatic13]

Another way of approaching calling that many take is to look at their strengths. If you haven't done so, I highly recommend taking the CliftonStrengths Assessment from Gallup. I will place a link to it below. That starts with a focus on your strengths vs. your weaknesses. My top strength is maximizer, meaning I like working with people who are good and trying to help them get to excellence. I have adopted Susan Colantuono's definition of leadership: "Using the greatness in you to achieve and sustain extraordinary outcomes by engaging the greatness in others"

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=20c8...mNvbS9jbGlmdG9uc3RyZW5ndGhzL2VuL2hvbWUuYXNweA

Your first point was what stood out to me. I’m in a manager role with a company and every week during our manager’s staff meeting, we have a leadership topic. We did Clifton Strengths a few months ago and it was fascinating how even in our room of 15 with the same role/title, just how different we all were and what everyone brought to the team. I do think it has majorly improved communication within our own team of how we even just interact with each other. I love the idea, and have been trying to intentionally focus on it with the main people I supervise, of leaning into what people are good at instead of always trying to improve their weaknesses. I really liked your line “People want to be seen, not fixed.”


The book we are going through right now is “Surrounded by Idiots”, which sounds a lot funnier than it is, but it goes through a lot of the same ideas of Clifton Strengths but instead uses the DISC assessment and breaks personalities up into different colors and how the different colors like to be led. Highly recommend.

Lastly, great job!

Oh and lastly lastly, my top 5 Clifton strengths are: Empathy, Competition, Communication, Maximizer, Woo

 

[CyberJJJ]

Your first point was what stood out to me. I’m in a manager role with a company and every week during our manager’s staff meeting, we have a leadership topic. We did Clifton Strengths a few months ago and it was fascinating how even in our room of 15 with the same role/title, just how different we all were and what everyone brought to the team. I do think it has majorly improved communication within our own team of how we even just interact with each other. I love the idea, and have been trying to intentionally focus on it with the main people I supervise, of leaning into what people are good at instead of always trying to improve their weaknesses. I really liked your line “People want to be seen, not fixed.”


The book we are going through right now is “Surrounded by Idiots”, which sounds a lot funnier than it is, but it goes through a lot of the same ideas of Clifton Strengths but instead uses the DISC assessment and breaks personalities up into different colors and how the different colors like to be led. Highly recommend.

Lastly, great job!

Oh and lastly lastly, my top 5 Clifton strengths are: Empathy, Competition, Communication, Maximizer, Woo

Thanks for sharing Cyfanatic13. I haven't read Surrounded by Idiots but you have me intrigued. My top 5 strengths: Maximizer, Strategic, Ideation, Activator, Woo so we have some overlap! My keynotes are on how to lead through strengths.

 

[isufbcurt]

Your first point was what stood out to me. I’m in a manager role with a company and every week during our manager’s staff meeting, we have a leadership topic. We did Clifton Strengths a few months ago and it was fascinating how even in our room of 15 with the same role/title, just how different we all were and what everyone brought to the team. I do think it has majorly improved communication within our own team of how we even just interact with each other. I love the idea, and have been trying to intentionally focus on it with the main people I supervise, of leaning into what people are good at instead of always trying to improve their weaknesses. I really liked your line “People want to be seen, not fixed.”


The book we are going through right now is “Surrounded by Idiots”, which sounds a lot funnier than it is, but it goes through a lot of the same ideas of Clifton Strengths but instead uses the DISC assessment and breaks personalities up into different colors and how the different colors like to be led. Highly recommend.

Lastly, great job!

Oh and lastly lastly, my top 5 Clifton strengths are: Empathy, Competition, Communication, Maximizer, Woo

If a job ever asked me to read a book I would turn around and walk right back out the door.

 

[DarkStar]

My thoughts.

Calling is a rather vague term that is rather hard for each individual to define. It also places the focus on something external to yourself that you have no control over. I prefer to use the term Values. It is easier for me to define those things in my life I value. Instead of asking myself an unanswerable question of "Is this my calling?" I can answer the question of "Is this something I value?" of "Is this something that will help me achieve something I value?"

I do not consider balance and alignment to be at odds with each other. They are two sides to the same coin. One helps you achieve and informs you about the other.

If I'm not aligned with my values, then balance is a struggle. If my life seems out of balance I look for places in my life that are not aligned with my values. By fixing those things that are not in alignment with my values is the easiest way to restore balance.

That may sound like a circular argument. Probably because it is. It is a feedback loop that helps you make course corrections as you travel the journey of your life.

One last thought that you touched upon. Things you value can change as you go through life. Maybe because you achieve something and realize it wasn't what you thought it was. Or you realize something wasn't as important as you thought it was. That's a big part of the journey and being human.

I enjoyed the talk.

 

[cyfanatic13]

If a job ever asked me to read a book I would turn around and walk right back out the door.

I’m sure some of the bigger words are tough for you, I get it.

 

[isufbcurt]

I’m sure some of the bigger words are tough for you, I get it.

No, I just have better things to do with my time.

 

[CyberJJJ]

My thoughts.

Calling is a rather vague term that is rather hard for each individual to define. It also places the focus on something external to yourself that you have no control over. I prefer to use the term Values. It is easier for me to define those things in my life I value. Instead of asking myself an unanswerable question of "Is this my calling?" I can answer the question of "Is this something I value?" of "Is this something that will help me achieve something I value?"

I do not consider balance and alignment to be at odds with each other. They are two sides to the same coin. One helps you achieve and informs you about the other.

If I'm not aligned with my values, then balance is a struggle. If my life seems out of balance I look for places in my life that are not aligned with my values. By fixing those things that are not in alignment with my values is the easiest way to restore balance.

That may sound like a circular argument. Probably because it is. It is a feedback loop that helps you make course corrections as you travel the journey of your life.

One last thought that you touched upon. Things you value can change as you go through life. Maybe because you achieve something and realize it wasn't what you thought it was. Or you realize something wasn't as important as you thought it was. That's a big part of the journey and being human.

I enjoyed the talk.

Thanks for the feedback. I agree with your point on values. In fact, one definition of culture equals values plus behavior. Alignment means we don’t have to compartmentalize our values by role, but rather can be authentic to our values and all of our roles.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Related, just watched this today. Saw it early this morning and bookmarked it due to length and then my uncle texted it to me as well.

 

[Big Daddy Kang]

Two things:

Who's your target audience?
What's your message?

Neither are clear or well defined. I wouldn't listen to it again.

PS. Have someone buy you some new pants.

 

[BCClone]

No, I just have better things to do with my time.

That’s what I think of those personality tests. I’ve taken two. I knee what was expected of my job so I answered them that way. Was told I scored extremely well. The second one did have one tiny hiccup though. To answer it the way to come across as the biggest team player it said I struggle to make decisions. No one would say that is a characteristic of me at work.

 

[CyberJJJ]

Two things:

Who's your target audience?
What's your message?

Neither are clear or well defined. I wouldn't listen to it again.

PS. Have someone buy you some new pants.

With TEDx talks, there are really two audiences: 1) the live audience at the event which in this case was largely university students. The theme of this particular local TEDx was "Rooted in Values, Reaching The World"
2) the much broader TED audience which is about having a big idea worth spreading. (they have over 44 million subscribers on YouTube.) My TEDx talk, Dispel Three Myths Blocking Your Calling, invited the audience to rethink purpose as a values‑rooted commitment to meaningful contribution. Those definitions and details are in the print materials for the program. I thought the title gave the focus, but understand it won't be for everybody. Finally, my wife agrees with you on the pants.

 

[Cycsk]

I tend to use the term "lifework" as someone may have multiple callings.