Shortly after being named Co-President of Morgan Stanley, James Gorman was asked for his advice by our group of senior female MDs. I still remember what he said: “you must do that which you uniquely do.”
I agree – we excel when we focus on bringing our strengths to bear in our work, and among these strengths, we each have a special ability – as James Gorman said, “the thing you uniquely do” – that we bring to the table.
Get in touch with what that is, and make sure you are using that unique strength in your work. It’s the best way to blossom professionally.
My first boss told me, “May, you can say just about anything to anybody and get away with it.” I wasn’t sure what that meant – was this a compliment or an admonition? Had I been talking back to him without meaning to?
It wasn’t until years later that I realized he was identifying a special strength of mine – to engage with people and get to the core of things constructively, even when difficult. In fact, I do prefer the trickier client situations and tend to be entrusted with difficult conversations.
This special strength became increasingly useful as I became more senior, and now it helps me as a coach.
Today, pay attention to when and where you are having your biggest impact and when you feel most in your element. These are likely to be situations where you are using your special strengths.
What are you doing? What strengths are coming into play? What is that special strength for you?
If you’re not sure, ask a few people you trust for what they see as your special or most distinctive strength. Sometimes it’s easier for others to identify than to see it for yourself.
What’s your special strength and how are you using it this year?
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May is an executive coach, speaker, advisor, and author of the #1 international bestseller VISIBLE: How to Advance Your Career Without Playing Politics, Selling Your Soul, or Working Yourself into the Ground. She’s a seasoned business executive with a passion for helping leaders be the best they can be.
As an executive coach and mentor, May brings 24 years of front-line corporate experience and expertise, most recently as COO of Morgan Stanley Europe, to help professionals overcome (often hidden) obstacles, advance to the next level in their careers and reach their full potential.
