When I was in the sixth grade I had to make an animal out of papier-mâché for my biology class. My grandmother helped me create the giraffe and as we painted it she pulled out notecards. On the notecards she had written facts about giraffes, where they lived, what they ate and how long they lived. I told her "but that's not the assignment, the assignment was to make an animal and we're done now."
My grandmother looked at me with her kind, knowing eyes and said "that may be what the teacher asked for but always give people more than they expect."
I have no idea what happened to that papier-mâché giraffe but the lesson I learned that day stuck with me forever. I also realized another valuable gem of information hidden in giving people more; it forces you to grow and stretch as well.
In all my years in corporate America and as a career and life coach I am still shocked at how many people play small.
Are you playing small?
Scenario: Your boss has asked you to pull the past twelve months of sales data for a client. What you do?
A) Pull the numbers and email them to your boss
B) Pull the numbers, create a chart with the data and email your boss
C) Ask your boss more about what the numbers will be used for then provide an in-depth analysis that you present to him/her in a brief 5 minute presentation at their desk
I'm not trying to trick you. That answer is of course C but when you first read the scenario did you automatically think to ask more questions or simply do the task and move on?
Symptoms of a small player mindset
My definition of playing small is having short sight, not looking past a task and seeing it for what it is, an opportunity for growth. Viewing this scenario as one small task is playing small. Other signs and symptoms of small player mindset:
Working exactly eight hours and leaving right on time each day without surveying the environment.
Applying for jobs with only your current skillset in mind.
Complaining about the circumstances of a current role but never offering solutions.
Key phrases of a small player mindset
That's not my job.
We've always done it this way.
Side effects may include:
Staying in the exact same role for 30 years
Job hopping to the same job in various companies
The cure
Are you ready to play bigger? There's a cure and it's not more cowbell; but a shift in mindset.
The next time you find yourself playing small I want you to ask yourself these questions:
What is one step I could take that's deeper than the task at hand?
How am I stretching myself in this task? (If you're not, how could you?)
In one year where could I be if I chose to play this situation big?
This week is all about managing up, so please ask yourself, am I managing myself up to the level I know I'm capable?