Shine a light on hidden gifts
I knew about fish - especially the jelly kind. I knew about coral. I knew about a couple of insect-y things. But I didn't know that mammals and marsupials glow in the dark. That's right! Wombats, echidnas, platypuses, sheep, hares, even my moggy, Mr Spooks! If you turn a UV light on them, they [or bits of them] light up like glow sticks at a rave.
How amazing!
While I think these critters are already amazing, knowing they have this whole thing going on right under my limited visual spectrum sort of blows my mind.
And it got me thinking. What else don't we see? If we had the right equipment, what other secrets are hiding in plain sight?
How cool would it be to imagine our eyes had some new features? We could go to work and see our colleagues differently. Maybe we can hone our vision to see the best in people or how people might be hurting or easily recognise their talents and potential.
There is always more going on than is first obvious. It just takes some refocusing and a little time to see it.
And let's face it, everyone wants to be seen - truly and deeply.
“You encourage others by seeing the good in them.”
That type of seeing creates the opportunity for people to shine. And as a manager, by recognising these different aspects of your team, you can help them realise the potential they might not know they have. That has to be pretty darn rewarding all around. It builds confidence, trust and an environment primed for innovation and achievement.
It makes this whole work thing much more meaningful and fulfilling.
So, set your eyes to see something remarkable you hadn't noticed about your team and colleagues today.
Be that kind of shining example.