Theory Day, Multiple intelligences

Today's theory day was that we each had to give a 5-10 minute report on what we have learned in the last seven theory days, how we have implemented it, and how it has made us a better employee/spouse/parent, etc.

Last month we talked about multiple intelligences. These are the intelligences defined:
Linguistic: articulate, language and thought flows comfortably
Logical & Mathematical: organization, direct, to the point
Musical: hums, whistles, rythm, tone, emotion
Spatial: visual, sees problem in dimensions
Bodily Kinesthetic : athletic, learn-by-doing, hands-on
Intrapersonal: more withdrawn, maybe shy, self-aware, introspective
Interpersonal: sales personality, good with people, communicative, empathy

And there are two more, which we mentioned but didn't focus on:
Natural: loves nature, loves hunting, animals
Existentialist: spiritual, philosophical

The intelligences I have personally identified with most areIntRApersonal, logical/mathematical, and musical. I can see how the logical/mathematical aspect applies to the job, but I have a harder time seeing how being intrapersonal and musical are of any use at the office.

The intelligences that I most definately am NOT are linguistic and spatial. (and I said spatial, not spacey). I mean I completely stumble over myself when called on in those meetings, I can't get the words to come out right, to represent my thoughts accurately, or to sound halfway intelligent. Whereas my boss (there are two bosses in that meeting with this quality, actually) is very quick and can speak up at the drop of a hat, get the sentences to flow, and not only make sense but be insightful. I just can't do that and it's kind of embarrassing sometimes. As for being spatial, that is the reason that we always bring our problems to him, because he is always able to see many sides of it and finds additional things to consider, whereas my thoughts on things are always so black and white. Yes, my boss is pretty much a great example of everything up there.

Well, part of talking about different strengths was to point out that everyone has different ones, and they are best when used. (duh). The instinctive thing when talking about strengths and weaknesses is to find what you're weak at and then say, "that is what I need to work on." However, as we learn in the meeting, what you actually need to do is find your strengths and make them better, and don't worry about your weaknesses.

Someone once told a story about a group of animals; the bird was good at soaring, the cheeta was good at running, the lion was good at roaring, etc. etc. Well one day they all looked at themselves, and the bird realized that it wasn't very good at roaring and needed to work on that, and the cheeta realized it wasn't very good at soaring and needed to work on that, etc. etc. Well, eventually, the bird got so wrapped up in practicing it's roar that it forgot how to soar. And the cheeta had been working on soaring for so long that it lost it's running skills, etc. etc. You see where this is going. (I am not a good storyteller but you get the drift). You see, working on our strengths is where our focus needs to be, and by making the strong things stronger, the weak things are automatically lifted up as well. (And as a manager, or a parent, spouse, etc., realizing that other people have specific strengths helps us to understand them a little better, and perhaps to help them utilize their strengths.) But if we send a message to other people that says, "if you don't perform in the areas that I care about, you're worthless," we are teaching them learned helplessness and they will quit trying.

Anyway. Aside from my boss, who is perfect, I have realized that it's okay that being linguistic just isn't one of my strengths. It's unfortunate that my weakness has to be showcased to everyone else in the meeting, but I am no longer going to let that bother me. My locus of control is internal, baby! (A theory day subject for another post...)