Last week I was with a group of really smart people. They have given most of their life to developing their craft to serve others.
They spent a considerable amount of time talking about why some junior colleagues were struggling.
One leader made this observation.
“The folks who are struggling don’t have a clear identity. They don’t know who they are. Our colleagues who are winning know who they are.”
Knowing who you are is difficult because it’s limiting. Finding your lane can feel constricting. It means naming what you won’t say yes to, what you don’t have capacity to stand for, and how you can’t help. But then, when you know who you are you don’t overpromise, underdeliver, and are far less likely to burn out.
Knowing who you are is first limiting, and then propelling.