One of my core competencies is being willing to look slightly dumb. I like trying new things, inevitable you make mistakes and look stupid, while I don’t revel in it, I do accept it as part of my life.
It’s given me some good stories, a lot of fun and I’ve learned some cool and useful things such as replacing a timing belt on a car, tying a proper bow tie and speaking to a large group.
Being comfortable with myself and willing to look like an idiot at work has allowed me to
- Ask the stupid question that the group assume everyone else knows
- Ask the project manager whose plan I don’t understand why did they do it this way
- Miss those pointless meetings with no agenda or point but the, boss will be there
- How come a particular thing usually happens but we manage it as an exception
- Hold my ground. We started with a schedule with no float and a predecessor event is late, I can’t compress 3 weeks to compensate
- The result may be Y, but it was caused by X. Why don’t we deal with X and not Y?
- Be willing to ask why we are not taking an opportunity cost if it makes sense to me
It’s not much of a superpower I’ll grant you, but since I’ve embraced it, it’s served me very well.
