by Jerry Madsen
I really don't get into the "home" genre of television programming. Home improvement shows. Home remodeling shows. Home shopping shows. Home gardening shows. Blah. Blah. Blah. All it does is remind me of the mountain of work I need to do on my own house or that I secretly envy the lavish lifestyle of those who can afford more than me.
My wife, on the other hand, really enjoys them. I'll often pull-up our Tivo menu to see that she has
recorded a number home programs that she didn't have time to watch when it aired. That would explain why - when I plopped-down next to her on the coach the other day - she was watching HGTV (that's 'Home & Gardening TV' for those not-in-the-know).
She was watching one of those programs where a TV personality and camera crew follow a house hunting couple around town in their efforts to purchase a new abode. [Insert yawn here].
Under normal circumstances, I would have selfishly blurted-out, "So what else is on?"; that's my not-so-subtle way of trying to get the channel changed. But for reasons that are so completely beyond me, I just sat there without saying a word.
The couple in question had looked at three different homes and could not decide which was worthy of an offer. So as I was watching this mind-numbing process come to a conclusion, the aforementioned TV personality took us to a commercial break with these words, "Coming-up, Sue and John continue to demonstrate an inability to make a quick decision."
I furrowed my brow.
Now, I'm no fan of feet-draggers, but as I sat there, I could not help but take exception to Little-Miss-TV-Personalty's last comment.
"An inability to make a quick decision?" I thought. "Maybe it's not an inability to make a quick decision, but rather a talent for thinking things through. Maybe they have the Deliberative strength or Intellection or perhaps both. Maybe one or both of them have Input and need to see more then three houses before making an offer. But whatever it is, you can't assume that it's 'an inability to make a quick decision!' Lady, you could be mocking their strengths on national TV and not even know it!"
I stepped down from the soapbox in my head, turned to my wife and said, "So what else is on?"
Putting my TV viewing habits aside for the moment, that's the beauty of individual and corporate Strengths development, is it not? I'm speaking of the ability to not only embraced your own Strengths, but also learning to embrace the Strengths of others, even if they're not in your top 5... or top 25.
As I said, people who feel the need to think through a process often leave me feeling impatient. I imagine that the most common phrase of the Activator in all of us is, "What's there to think about?!?" I know I've uttered those words on more than one occasion.
But the point in this case isn't that I should change the way I make a decision, but rather, that I accept and embrace that the way others make a decision is likely born out of their Strengths. And it doesn't end there. It's that I embrace the way others see the future, or the way they seem so laid back, or they way they get competitive, or how easily engaging they become, etc, etc, etc...
Individual Strengths development is great. I'll even go out on a limb and say it's necessary for excellence. But again, Strengths must be thought of corporately.
Cause ain't nothing happens in a vacuum.
OK - remind me to never watch TV with you. Seriously though, I loved your view of accepting and valuing other's strengths. I wonder if we come across someone with our same top 5 strengths in common- would we like them or would we clash with them. This world is full of different types of people with different backgrounds and yes, different STRENGHTS. The trick is valuing the different strengths that we come in contact with. Learning to work with those who approach things differently than we do is a win, win! Identifying and accepting our own strengths is essential but learning to tolerate and appreciate others for their strengths is equally important.
Posted by: Jetta Cruse | July 12, 2007 at 04:58 PM
Hello Jerry,
Perhaps your wife would enjoy taking some interior design courses. I would be glad to give her a tour. (Always thinking about those numbers)
Posted by: Cheryl King | July 24, 2007 at 10:02 AM