Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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September 8, 2009

What Would Be Missing If You Weren’t There?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 9:08 am

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You Are More than the Average

“If I had another resume just like yours, what three things would you bring to the work that the other person would not?”

I’ve used that interview question for well over ten years. It’s not a test of reactions or a comparison. It’s how I find out more about what a person values and who that person is. I’ve never thought about a “right” answer; never heard a “wrong” one; might have caught one or two that seemed a little unreal.

In over a decade I’ve never gotten the same answer twice.

What happens is the person stops, thinks for a while then says something of unique value.

Every answer is a bonus, above that person’s job qualifications. Sometimes it’s a natural talent. Sometimes it’s a skill. Sometimes it’s a core value or quality that speaks to his or her humanity. Always it’s a statement of an individual’s uniqueness.

We are our uniqueness, our skills and our abilities, our image, our traits, and our potential. Each of us as a person fits and fills a need or solves a problem in a way that no other person ever will.

You’ve got your own unique talents, skills, values, and human qualities.

You are more than the average person.

We all are.

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What do you bring that would be missing if you weren’t there?

I’ll go first.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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21 Comments to “What Would Be Missing If You Weren’t There?”

  1. September 8th, 2009 at 9:09 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    I see things and make connections that other folks don’t see. I bring the heart to the big picture so that people want to be there.

  2. September 8th, 2009 at 9:37 am
    Karin H said

    Hi Liz

    I speak and write double Dutch ;-) Just kidding.

    A bit like you but then more in methods and especially some software programs, I seem to have a knack of stretching the software - or combinations of software - to make it do more than original thought of. So it saves time and sometimes money.

    Like you I “see” these connections and combinations. Lateral thinking a friend of mine calls it.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  3. September 8th, 2009 at 10:01 am
    JS Dixon said

    Whatever I’m working on I throw myself completely in to it.

    Anything that I do long enough, I am going to find a better and simpler way to do it.

    I prioritize my tasks.

    I genuinely believe in people and will do everything I know how in order to pull out the best in each of them.

    I view great service as the ultimate form of leadership by example.

    When I see something done well, such as the question at the end of this post, I will compliment it.

    I am in a constant state of self-improvement. As such I will continue to get better than I am now.

  4. September 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
    Lisa D. Jenkins said

    This was a great exercise for me. I’ve often thought about these facets of my personality, but have never incorporated them into a resume or proposal. I think I’ll start.

    My passion is matched by my work ethic. I do not believe in the “That’s not my job” philosophy; I believe that public relations can include making certain customers have a clean restroom. It is doubtful that anyone will work harder for you than I will.

    I will ask for help if I don’t know or understand something.

    I will give you the candid truth, as I see it, and will weigh yours in return. We don’t have to agree to respect one another.

    @LisaDJenkins

  5. September 8th, 2009 at 11:40 am
    Todd Smith said

    Thanks for going first, Liz.

    I listen really well. And I always believe there is a solution that will work for everyone, if we look for it.

    In photography, my listening translates into noticing things that others miss.

  6. September 8th, 2009 at 11:54 am
    Daniel Edlen said

    I can see the big picture, the framework, the logic, and then work within those constraints to help understand a problem, handle an issue. Call it “systemic empathy”?

    Peace.

  7. September 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Karin,
    You do make some interesting connections … many that I’d miss without you. You stretch me as well as the software. I’m grateful to have you around. ;)

  8. September 8th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Lisa,
    See!
    No need to wonder whether you’re the first one or the best one. You just explained why folks value you so much. Who wouldn’t want to work with you? You value everyone. :)

  9. September 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
    perry said

    Terrific post! This is something definitely something everyone needs to think about.
    Don’t know where I read it but the saying goes, “We overvalue what we are not and undervalue what we are.”

    Thanks for making me remember this.

  10. September 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Todd,
    I like hearing how you translate listening into listening with your lens. That’s something I’ll be thinking all day.

  11. September 8th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Daniel!
    Systemic empathy. That’s so you. It’s a ring of logic and heart that resonates with me. :)

  12. September 8th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
    Todd Smith said

    Thanks, Liz. And to comment on what you said in comment #1, you always make me want to be here!!

  13. September 8th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
    KatFrench said

    I am good at making the mental shift between meaning (what is this story we’re in?) and action (what should happen next?)

    And the last part of your post reminded me of “The Incredibles”:

    Helen Parr: Everyone is special.
    Dash Parr: Which is another way of saying no one is.

    I think maybe the end-run around that depressing piece of logic is that everyone has a unique gift of potential, but not everyone sees and uses it.

  14. September 8th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
    Alex Sysoef said

    Some great points Liz,

    Get a person off balance to force him or her reveal individuality :-)

  15. September 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
    --Deb said

    If I wasn’t here? Well, first of all, the Bedford Falls Savings and Loan would have failed years ago, and then … oh, wait, It’s a Wonderful Life was just a MOVIE… (grin)

  16. September 8th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi JS Dixon!
    You’ve got some qualities worth keeping. I’d love to know how you bring them together into your consulting role. Sounds like you make a great teacher or trainer. A little better is a great name for a blog. :)

  17. September 8th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Perry!
    Yep, we undervalue what comes naturally. I guess we figure if it’s easy than everyone can do that too. What comes naturally is what we should all be doing … it’s what we were made to do. :) heh heh

  18. September 8th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Kat,
    I often say that we’re all the same in the fact that we’re all different. It’s learning how to leverage our differences that can make us not the same. heh heh

    Your ability to tell what’s going on and what needs to come next is something many folks don’t even have half. :)

  19. September 8th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Alex,
    I don’t like to take people off guard or get them off balance. People have to feel comfortable to share what they care about. The purpose of the question is to change the direction that they’re looking so that we can talk to each other about other things than the usual interview questions.

  20. September 8th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Deb,
    Exactly. yeah. Exactly.

  21. September 9th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
    Why do you think you are here? « He who seeketh, findeth said

    [...] Successful Blog -> http://successful-blog.com - and while there, I searched around, and found this interesting question that interviewees get asked all the time. I have been asked that question my fair share, but I have never given it much thought outside the [...]

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