The One Coaching Point That Applies To Everyone

From my starting in the video game industry in 1994 through to my current consultancy work, I have pretty much always had a leadership position and I have always managed and coached people. When it comes to coaching others, I always come back to these words from Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness Based Stress reduction:

“We work on ourselves to help others, but also we help others to work on ourselves.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn “Wherever You Go, There You Are”

The best of what I know has come from trying to help others. Through 30 plus years of coaching and mentoring people whilst leading video game development teams I have found there is one coaching point that applies to everyone:

an excess of your greatest strength is your greatest weakness.

Let me give you three examples to show you what I mean.

Imagine a graphics coder whose greatest strength is a commitment to pixel-perfect quality. That is a strength that the rest of the team will greatly appreciate. However, in excess, someone who is exceptionally detail-oriented might spend too much time on minor tasks, leading to delays in completing more significant projects or falling behind on work they have committed to. If that person is the conscientious type they may put their own well-being at risk in order to meet a deadline. That strength becomes an obsession and can lead them to over working and over thinking and eventually, to the brink of potential burnout.

Picture a game designer with exceptionally strong analytical skills. That is a strength that helps the game design meet players’ needs. However at times, someone with strong analytical skills might over analyse situations, leading to indecision, missed opportunities, or the inability to see the bigger picture. An excess of this designer’s strength could lead to suffering analysis paralysis, a common hazard in a fast-paced industry like video game development.

Imagine an art director with tremendous empathy for their art team. Being highly empathetic can be highly beneficial in understanding others’ feelings and perspectives, creating and engaged and motivated team. However, excessive empathy might lead someone to prioritise others’ needs over their own to the detriment of their well-being maybe even put them in a state of empathic distress.

Achieving a balance between leveraging your greatest strength and preventing it from becoming your greatest weakness is a delicate art. Here are some strategies to help navigate this equilibrium:

Work on your Self-Awareness:

Identifying patterns in your own behaviour starts with self awareness. Find time for regular self reflection through mindfulness, a walk through nature or whatever technique works for you. This gives you a chance to recognise when your strength may be reaching a tipping point.

Set Boundaries

Try to establish clear boundaries around your strengths. Can you define the limits within which you can effectively utilise your strength without risking overextension or burnout?

Practice Continuous Learning

Stay open to learning and evolving. Embrace new perspectives and methodologies to enhance your skill set and prevent stagnation in the application of your strength.

Ask for Feedback

Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or trusted colleagues. We can all observe others’ behaviour way more effectively than we can our own, so their perspectives can offer valuable insights into how your strength is perceived and whether adjustments are needed.

Delegate and Collaborate

Recognise that you don’t have to do everything on your own. Delegate tasks that don’t align with your strengths and collaborate with others to complement your abilities.

Prioritise and Focus

Identify priorities and focus your strength where it matters most. Channel your efforts toward tasks that align with overarching goals, avoiding the temptation to address every detail.

Mindfulness and Presence

Practicing mindfulness can help you stay present in the current moment. This helps prevent the anxiety that comes with excessive preoccupation with the future.

Cultivate Complementary Skills:

Develop complementary skills that can offset the potential drawbacks of your strength. This not only enhances your versatility but also provides alternative approaches to problem-solving. For example consider an artist who excels in crafting visually stunning environments but a potential drawback emerges when prioritising aesthetics over practical considerations, leading to possible delays. This artist could work to appreciate the best use of technical budgets and the level design process. With a nuanced understanding of both artistic and technical aspects, the artist can more effectively collaborate seamlessly across disciplines.

Coach other people

Look for opportunities to manage and coach others. Remember Professor Kabat-Zinn’s words, helping others will help you work on yourself. You can help them be aware of their greatest strength and how it might their greatest weakness. It will help you with your journey, I promise.

Remember, achieving balance is an ongoing process. It involves a dynamic interplay of self-awareness, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Striking the right equilibrium allows you to harness the full potential of your strengths while mitigating the risks associated with their overuse.

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