Who Is In Your Drawer?
Years ago my father consulted to a mining company that was in financial meltdown. Unable to prevent the inevitable, his project wrapped up and the business had no cash left to pay his fees. As a token of their appreciation they gave him half a dozen ‘semi-precious’ stones mined from the site. Fast-forward several years and my Dad rediscovers the stones in his desk drawer, alongside a graveyard of stationery relics. Too small to make a useful paperweight they had been relegated to collect dust… brown, green and frankly unimpressive in appearance. Or at least they were to the untrained eye.
It occurred to him to have the stones valued and I well remember his shock when the call came from the valuer. These unimpressive, uncut stones were worth over $60,000 in their raw form alone. In the hands of a master craftsman their value would multiply further. You can probably guess what happened next. Suddenly the stones went from the unlocked desk drawer to the safe. They were added to the insurance policy. They were even eyed off by my Mum for jewellery pieces.
I wonder who is in your drawer?
Experience has taught me that in the drawers of almost every organisation lie people with extraordinary, but as yet unrecognised potential. Brown and green. Gathering dust. There for the taking. Over the years I’ve hired several individuals that other leaders had in the drawer. A few of those leaders even warned me that I was wasting my time. Today those same individuals have become truly world-class leaders in their own right and are ‘paying it forward’ as they help others realise their potential.
One of the most valuable skills you can hone is the ability to spot real possibility in people. Anyone can identify a leader when they’ve already been crafted. The mastery is in identifying, investing in and maturing that potential. It reminds me of Michelangelo who carved the famous statue of David from the very same slab of limestone that several other sculptors had already rejected as being too shallow and weak. He said later that when he looked at that slab he could already “see David in the stone”.
So perhaps it’s time for you to look again?
• Take stock of your team. Consciously disregard appearances, position and market value. Ask yourself “What are they truly capable of?”
• Find a valuer. Is there someone in your world with an eye for potential that could give you a professional opinion?
• Multiply their value. One of the greatest gifts you can give your team is to not settle for raw potential. Be the leader they can trust to cut through the exterior and bring out their ‘wow’.
“Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Tags: Executive Coach, Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Leadership Development, Leadership Training, Mentoring, Performance Coaching, Team Building
June 29th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Try being the stone in the drawer!
As part of my journey have been times when my leader has sen my potential and invested in it and other times when managers have tried to put me in the drawer and forget about me when I know I am capable of so much more.
The leaders who have invested in me have gotten a much better ROI from me as I have reached greater heights than ever before. Those who have ignored me… it’s not just me who has missed out but the organisation and the leader as well.
It takes courage to empower those you lead to shine – they might outshine you one day and unfortunately some managers don’t want to see that happen so they lock the stones in the drawer and throw away the key. What a total waste of great opportunities.
Leaders who find and develop the potential in their followers – now they are true gems!
June 29th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
This is so encouraging – not only to Leaders but also the “brown and green stones”. As a former stone, I’d say to my fellow “I’m just a stone” believers… if at all possible put yourself in the right drawer somehow! In today’s world, turn on the TV, purchase that book and subscribe to a few amazing twitters! There are leaders who know how to get you on track and will inspire you to greatness. Thank you Paul!
June 29th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Often stones can be a threat to others — I think leaders often know of the hidden potential.
I remember years ago my husband took a position of leadership in an international non profit. There was a serious morale problem. Hidden in the organization he found some incredible talent lying latent because the previous leader viewed them as a threat. Once he began to engage them in the decision making process, evaluated their strengths and placed them in roles where they could thrive he saw exponential growth in the organization — cost savings — increased morale, etc.
You are right on, Paul.
June 29th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Paul this is brilliant, and so very true. I have been a person in the drawer and leaders like you have helped harness and cause me to see the potential in me. And also now I’m in the position where I have people in my world that have been stuck in those draws, life has caused them to not see their full potential, and I can help them see and realise that they are worth so much more than they realise.
Keep up the great work mate
June 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Excellent story & message Paul. As a leader, a leadership specialist coach and an employee I can identify with each aspect of this story. Your quote from Ralph Emerson is now printed and blue tacked to my office door.
I look around me at the 40 or so people sitting outside my door who I lead and I am proud to be someone who see’s the precious stone within each. I am passionate about the value within people, and it is my experience (sadly) that so many leaders get in their employees way. People before profit to produce profit is my formula. The riches of leadership evolution and personal development is beyond any financial gain or position title. Here’s to EQ leadership folks.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Wow, that is a brilliant contrast.
Thanks for the insight and beautifully written column.
You leave me with wanting to know more!!!
Looking forward to working with you.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Hey Paul,
Great column once again. Love the creativity and inspiration the columns bring. They always leave me feeling more inspired to continue my leadership journey. Thanks for being an inspiration.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I love your perspective and your colourful prose Paul. It’s always important to remember the endless potential each of us contains within, and to encourage it to grow and be realised.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Wow Paul,
strange reading “Who is in your draw”, I did a teambuilding in Manila a few months ago for a cosmetic company, listened to what was going on, then thought!! mmmm! I know someone who may benefit here, my house keeper, I enrolled her and paid her fees. Now, a few months later, she’s turning a small profit and her sales still growing.
My point here is, I really believe in, “Who is in your draw”. Inspiring, humbling, keeps my eyes, and mind open.