Let’s be honest. You dread certain tasks. Really dread them. You might even wake up in the morning and experience a sinking “ugghhh” feeling when you remember it.
Here’s the kicker: not only do you dislike this type of task, and feel exhausted just thinking about it, but these types of tasks position you as a merely average performer.
It gets worse — these types of assignments could damage your reputation, because they put you at a serious disadvantage.
How to spot your quicksand areas, before the even begin? It all comes down to your results from your Fascinate® Test.
Why certain tasks feel like quicksand
Let’s say you’re right–handed. You could, theoretically, write with your left hand. But it would feel awkward, exhausting, and discouraging. This same principle applies to your performance at work.
Kristin has a primary Mystique Advantage. Her manager expects her to sparkle with gregarious banter while schmoozing clients. However, with primary Mystique, Kristin dreads these networking events because she feels uncomfortably thrust into the limelight. These situations suck her energy, dragging her down like quicksand.
Quicksand tasks exhaust your time and energy, and distract you from the critical areas that will lead to results. In quicksand mode, you’re less likely to impress and influence people.
Why other tasks give you confidence and energy
Wellspring tasks give you energy, rather than requiring energy. They make you feel focused, confident, and in the flow. Coworkers and clients seek you out in your wellspring areas, because it’s so clear that this is where you shine.
For a quick tip on immediately applying these concepts to improving productivity — Ask yourself two simple questions:
- What are your WELLSPRINGS? (Do more of these, because they showcase your natural Advantages.) Your wellsprings come directly from your top
- What types of projects are your QUICKSAND? (Watch out for these! They can damage people’s perception of you.)
Here’s my answer to these questions:
“My wellsprings include activities such as idea development, writing notes to you, and playing fetch with my French Bulldog puppy, Bacon. My quicksand? Spreadsheets (ugh!) and proofreading (uggghhh!).”
How about you? What are you WELLSPRING moments, when you feel energized and focused? On the other hand, what are your dreaded areas of QUICKSAND begin?
18 Comments
Aha! Finding out that I am a Master Mind explains exactly why I’m having so much trouble learning this new (to me) computer program. This is exactly where my Quicksand is centered. Add to that the fact that I hate staying inside and sitting at a desk. Maybe I’ll hire this done.
Great insights Sally! I’m the “Good Citizen – Trust & Alert”. Your descriptions of wellsprings and quicksand fit me perfectly. Thanks!
I’m the Scholar (Prestige & Alert) and was trying to figure out for a long time how these personality traits could be a good thing being an artist. I recently found a way to have my skills and strengths come together through a new etsy shop with bilingual and educational printables. It’s still a work in progress but I have LOVED working on these illustrations and translations using my wellspring of goal setting to finish the project and attention to detail on the language aspects. I look forward to adding more bilingual (Spanish – English and Dutch -English) products this year. My quicksand? I feel stressed with tight deadlines in areas where I don’t have a clear grasp on what I’m supposed to be doing and also when unexpected things pop up that mess with my schedule and routine. I don’t do well at multi-tasking even though I’m a mom. :0)
As an Avante Garde (Prestige + Innovation), I love doing things right, well and creatively. Your Wellspring dialogue in the chart literally is what I have been doing for our company over the last few weeks. Checking those branding guides and proofing the marketing presentations to ensure our contractors aren’t phoning in the 2nd rebrand in 15 months. It took hours to get through the presentations but they are right, exact, beautiful and in brand! We had to make many changes on a tight deadline and not being able to thoroughly review the entire decks after they “fixed” their errors gave me the shakes. I love Design Thinking, I do it for sport, and flexing those creative muscles is one of my favorite activities. I like being at the hub of the wheel and being able to use both of my strengths in my job makes me very happy. My quicksand is accounting and number tasks. I can do them very well, I just don’t like to. I actually quit a job after a nice 2 week vacation, when my boss was reassigned and the “new guy” brought in his own staff. I was offered an accounting position (I was a facilities coordinate and legal support), I basically quit on the spot (gave 2 weeks notice). When he told me to take some time and talk it over with my husband, I took the paid time (3 days).
When I returned to work, I quit that day. I allowed them to pay me to be a consultant to the new team for 6 months at $25/hr (in 1994) and was able to make a couple more grand due to the many hats I wore and the institutional knowledge that walked out the door because the “job” didn’t play to my strengths.
My wellspring is connecting with people on interesting topics like this.
My quicksand is being asked to pick a category, business, tool, personality trait that is my favorite.
My Quicksand tasks are e-mailing my staff and clients. Also creating spreadsheets and having anything to do with customer service calls when I have to intervene in client account transfer gives me anxiety!!!
My Wellspring tasks are talking to people, understanding their challenges and helping them solve their problems with creative strategies. I love being a resource for financial information to my clients and allied professionals. I love spending time with them hosting educational and social client events!
I’m the Subtle Touch (Mystique & Passion) and my business is Alert. Here are some of mine…
WELLSPRING
I do prefer some quiet to work in but I have to have some kind of white noise (i.e. radio or TV). Even though I get stuck I like to write and definitely prefer writing to talking. I like having some kind of template to work with to create things for my business, whether it’s a graphic or the material itself. I enjoy planning events, doing all the behind the scenes stuff. Researching ways to do things or helping clients is another good one.
QUICKSAND
Public speaking – EEK! Sales & Marketing aren’t good for me. Sales stuff seems icky and I haven’t found the way to present material to attract clients. Anything stressful isn’t good for me. No solid deadlines leads to procrastination.
Sarah, I am a native of Middle Tennessee, living right outside of Nashville in Franklin. Please feel free to reach out if you are inclined, about finding the right job. gary@garyminor.com.