Get Closer to You
This is a series of questions, I don’t know how many. They are the ones I ask when I help folks get closer to their personal identity.
What do you do well that other people come to you for help with?
I’ll answer first to get things started.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.
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People come to me
People come to me for my sense of anticipation.
I am great at cricizing, which is not too good, but people in my company are finding out it can be very helpful to prevent mistakes, and evaluate what-ifs.
Also, people ask me for help regarding why things happen, what “domino-effect” is in place.
Leo.
Leo,
Few folks can do that well. That’s a valuable skill. Learn to say it with finesse “I don’t think I love this.” and you’ll be even more golden. π
Do you keep track of the things you predict? Most of us who can do that aren’t very good at writing things down, but it adds to our value and credibility if we can show a track record of that sort as well. π
I don’t keep track of the things I predict… In fact, if I had, it would have been of more help to the organization for a longer time; I would have built my reputation quicker.
Thanks for your response!
Hi Leo!
Yeah, at the time it seems like it’s just so much sense it hardly seems worth writing down. Later though, the prediction shows it value when everyone sees it happening and forgets having talked about it. π
You’re welcome, Leo. Great to have you in the conversation.
You’re not a stranger anymore.
Thats a tough one to answer yourself I think.
Let me see…
I would say they come to me for help because they know I will help if I can help. Because they know I listen well and only offer advice when I have thought about it. That said I do have a tendency to rant when I first get started about something I know something about (which at least in my own mind is a lot of things). π
Furthermore do people come to me to learn where things are because somehow I always seem to know who had what last or where I last saw something π
Hi Jan!
It’s tough at first, but if you figure it out, you find one of your key values or more. π
Sounds like you are a problem solver with experience. who is organized and keep track of details. I bet you know a thing or two about process. π
People come to me when they need a job or when they need money.
OK, that’s sounds pretty awesome. But it really isn’t. Actually, more people send job openinigs to me than ask me for help with finding a job. I’m always glad to help when they ask. By the way, I manage the local fundraisng job bank…I told you it wasn’t really a big deal
Oh, when they need money…actually, when their organization needs help raising money. I do some consulting on the side as well as mentor younger professionals in the field of charitable fundraising.
John
I am a software project manager and I know how to manage a project “by the books”. Some people come to me to teach them how to manage their projects because I am good in explaining well.
But it is not always possible to do your job by the books. Most often you are put into complicated situation pressed by tight schedules and messy requirements. then people come to me to help them get through such situations.
I think I am good in distinguishing the important things from the less important ones, in prioritizing the tasks and in negotiating with the stakeholders to find a solution that satisfies everyone.
Hi Liz,
People come to me for advice on the mysteries of Microsoft Word (I’m a Tech Author by day) and for tips on which bicycle components will make them look cooler/ride faster (I’m a cycling nut by night).
Cheers, Ian.
People come to me when they need thoughts moved from their head to the page. They come to me for new ways to say the same old thing. Sometimes, they come for just a word, but they almost always leave with a paragraph.
I am not a great writer, but I am responsive and always up for a challenge. People know this, so they come to me for words. They come for sentences. They come for stories.
Hi Liz, do you know what I loved best about this post? The first sentence.
“I don’t know how many.”
I don’t know about you but I do get weary of some people and some writing and some blogs that say ‘here it is, packaged, organise, ordered, turned into a mini-series’.
Most of us know that there’s stuff to say, or ask, or enquire about. We might know there’s more – maybe a bit more or a whole lot more – but maybe not exactly how many questions we’re going to get to.
At the end of the day, that stuff doesn’t really matter. What matters is being able to ask a great question. And being ready to listen to people’s answers.
Joanna
PS As for the question – somehow, people come to me when they’re lost. I often feel lost myself, and maybe because of that I help people feel that all is not lost; that they are still, always, somewhere; and that there is joy to be found once they find… themselves.
Hmmm…people come to me when:
– To get clarity about the best path through a problem or to confront a problem without damaging the relationship.
– To listen to stories that help them discover and learn.
– To be challenged and supported to be at their learning best, and to bring new curiosity to old questions or problems.
Wow!
I go to a meeting and you all show up with these fabulous answers!! I’m blown away with this amazing intelligence! π
John,
You mentor and guide folks. You offer then help in an area most of us know so little about. That’s valuable stuff. It’s not just jobs you offer . . . it’s confidence, opportunity, direction, focus, and possibility. Whoa! Can you bottle that?
Nic,
You sound like magic. I’ve spent three weeks looking for the right word. I know that what you do is tough. Helping people put their hands into their heads and get to the ideas so that they see them is gift and wonder worth so much.
I’d love to talk you about how you do what you do. I bet you write better than you give yourself credit for. π
Thanks Joanna!
I bet most people would be surprised to know that I spent an hour trying to figure out how to word that single sentence question that appears there. I just couldn’t get it to sound right. . . . I knew what I meant.
I’m lost as much as anyone . . . maybe more. I think it’s a natural state with me. But being lost, I sure find some really cool stuff. π
Being lost does have the advantages of being able to tell folks how to feel okay with it, just like you said. Every comment you write is so filled with calm, assurance that I’d let you lead the way if we found ourselves lost in woods any day. π
Gee Tammy,
I’ve come to you for some of those very things and some things you’ve forgotten to mention here.
People come to you to learn how to say things in ways that will communicate what needs to be said in a way that really works. π
You do so much to make life work better for folks. The comment box just isn’t big enough!
Hi Mike!
Sorry you were stuck in moderation! Welcome to the conversation!
You sound like an unusual software kind of guy. You know your stuff, yourself, and your internal customers. Gosh, that’s a dynamic and deep combination. Have you really thought about how many folks can say what you wrote in the the comment box? π
Ian,
I know you. I don’t know why my blog didn’t know that! Sorry you had to wait for me to get back to get out of the moderation waiting gueue. But you’re here now!
A cycling nut tech advisor — how cool is that?!! You’re that and much more. You’re a writer and a guy who knows how to put his heart into what he writes.
People come to me when they want to hear me sing. Grown-ups don’t come to me a lot. If at all they come, they ask me to sing a song which I don’t know. Young people come to me a lot. Few come to ask me advice which Im not good giving. To be appropriate, Im a taker than a giver. Young lads come to learn soccer from me when they have a match in the weekends. Now a days some of them are asking me how to start with blogging and what steps they should take. I just tell them what I did when I was new here. Still Im new to blogging.
Hi Ram!
You sing. That’s wonderful! Grown-ups rarely take the right things seriously in people who are young. We’re too busy working . . . Silly us.
You sing, and you’re good at soccer. I think that’s so cool. Music and sports. Keep them close to your heart. And pass on all the blogging you know. You’re already a pro to the folks starting out. π
Hi, Liz!
You’ve got another great question there, lol. π
Hmmm… Others come to me…
– For calm.
– For encouragement.
– For ideas.
– When they need a cheerleader.
– When they want an honest assessment of a situation.
Thanks for making me think, Liz! π
Hi Dar!
Great to see you!
You are the glue and the heart where you are. You are the hope when the going gets scary and the fun when it gets boring. I bet lots of folks admire you. π
Liz, Im not good at singing but I sing. We call it Bathroom Singing. Thats what I do. Yes, I play soccer for my school team. Blogging has now become my passion. I just can’t hold myself from posting in my blogs everyday. Its fun and I love what I do.
As I read all of these great comments the question kept kicking around the back of my mind.
Interestingly I find myself reluctant to answer because my answer feels full of ego. But it is what it is.
First, people come to me just to talk. They tell me I am a great listener and they trust me. (And they tell me somethings that makes me think, “I really didn’t need to know that!”)
Second, those that ask me for advise tell me they come to me because I will be honest with them. That I wont tell them what I think they want to hear, nor will I give them advice that is about what I would do in their shoes, it is always about them.
Ram,
If it’s your passion, listen to it. You will learn so much from something you love. π
Kevin,
It’s not ego to know what you can do.
Mandela’s speech
. . . We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesnΓΒ’Γ’Β¬ÒΒΒ’t serve the world.
Change the World: One World-Sized Idea
Sometimes people need to say something to someone to know that it really happened. Talking about things makes them real. Having someone listen is so important to knowing that we are heard.
They tell you because of the second reason, you have a true heart and you think about them when you listen. People are so hungry to be heard.
Kevin, I talk and listen to bloggers on the phone every day. They always talk about listening.
Liz,
Thanks for the kind response. You have, on two occasions now, been the perfectly timed encouragement.
This question post was a great idea. I have enjoyed reading the responses.
Nic,
We need to figure out what we do well so that we can serve the people who love what we do. π
Liz, thank you for your kind words. I was thinking there are probably many of us who come to your blog to hear a friendly voice. π May have to add that to your list, LOL!
Hi Dar!
There aren’t enough friendly voices . . . no matter how many there are. π
Nic
PS. Thank you and You’re welcome. π
Hi Liz
It was an hour well spent on the question. Look at the amazing set of responses you’ve generated.
I love following the comments here and your amazing replies. Now I get what you mean about blogs being about the comments and conversation rather than magazine articles π But I doubt many people do it as well as you.
Joanna
Liz, your comment to me is such a good reminder of how helpful it is to have OTHER people answer these great questions you’re asking, because others can see things in us we sometimes overlook. Thank you for that!
Hi Jonna!
It’s the 80/20 rule — 80% of what I do is take the time. π
Thank you for noticing. I really enjoy the talking to people here. I feel like I get to know you each individually. It’s so cool to get to have conversation with you all. π
Hi Tammy,
It’s a lot like when we make books . . . one person develops the Table of Contents, but that person can sometimes leave out something because he or she leans toward what comes naturally and away from what they don’t consider as valuable. π
At work, people come to me with MS Office problems several times per day. Formatting, photo problems, “can I do this?,” etc.
Outside of work, people usually come to me most often for problem-solving or listening to their problem in hopes that I get interested enough to help them. π
Hi Jesse!
You’re the “go-to” guy for learning new skills. I can see that because your work is so realiable and accurate. You have credibility and respect.
People (like Dar) come to me when they want to know “Can I make my website do this?” They know they’ll get the most honest, cost-effective answer I can possibly give.
Every time I post comments like this, I have to give thanks to my many wonderful online peers who convinced me to make a career of it! (Thanks ladies!!)
Hi K.C.!
Great to meet any friend of Dar’s! Welcome!
Yeah, isn’t something how we make each other better and stronger at what we do. Like Tony D. Clark Says, “The whole thing changes when the world becomes your community.”
You’re not a stranger anymore.
I do well with technology in general, but specifically with programming on our systems and program related questions. Lots of folks come to me to find out about social media stuff as well.
I love all of these types of questions.
Hi Todd!
I sure hope you’re collecting these responses of yours! You’re putting together a great profile of who you are. π
figuring things out. drawing out answers they didnΓΒ’Γ’Β¬ÒΒΒ’t know they had. support they donΓΒ’Γ’Β¬ÒΒΒ’t get from other people. listening they donΓΒ’Γ’Β¬ÒΒΒ’t get from other people. something that takes initiative. IT stuff.
Hi Isabella!
I can see why folks look to you for these things. You’re a magnet for thinkers who want a solid mind to share thoughts with. π
People come to me usually for the truth. I am a very honest and open person and if someone asks for my opinion they know that I will tell them exacttly what I think, which is not necessarily a positive thing. I never intend to hurt people but sometimes they have trouble handling the truth. What they see is not necessarily what others see.
People also come to me for me to motivate them and to pick them up when they are down.
Hi Sarah!
An honest and caring person to reflect on what we as is a valuable person to have in our lives. The motivation and inspiration seem to come as part of the package, don’t they?
It’s so much easier to bend the truth sometimes so as not to hurt people but there are occasions when others really do need to be told – how can a flower grow if it is always in the dark?!
Hi Sarah,
I’m with you. It took me longer than I wish to figure out that sometimes I was telling for my own benefit, not theirs. π