3 tips for understandng your solid ground & dangerous ground

“I am great working on my solid ground - being with the people with whom I have a values-fit,” said one person. “This makes-up 90% of my job. But sometimes the role takes me into other territory - meeting people with whom there is a mismatch. My style probably upsets them because I speak and think differently. I don’t even look right! Sometimes they say things that are like a red flag. Feeling provoked, I speak out of turn. Although I only spend 10% of my time there, it is the dangerous ground where I make mistakes.”

Where for you is the solid ground? Where is the dangerous ground? Let’s explore how to deal with these different situations.

* You can clarify your ‘solid ground’.

Try tackling the exercise on this theme. Describe what for you is the solid ground. You feel comfortable in these situations - but also stretch yourself and do good work. You may be confident because three factors are in place: a) You know your subject; b) You know your audience and their agenda; c) You know how to succeed. Try completing the following sentence.

The situations where I feel on solid ground are:

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* You can clarify your ‘dangerous ground’.

Describe what for you is dangerous ground. These may be situations where either: a) Your values don’t fit; b) Your communication style is too different; c) You do not respect the people and this occasionally slips through; d) You feel so passionately about a subject that you may become aggressive or opinionated; e) You commit a cultural ‘sin’ - and sometimes you don’t even know you have done it! Try completing the following sentence.

The situations where I feel on dangerous ground are:

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* You can build on the solid ground and deal with the dangerous ground.

Let’s start by focusing on the solid ground. How can you continue to build on your strengths? How can you put yourself into more situations where you work best? How can you reach more people with whom you have a values-fit? How can you help them to succeed? How can you keep expanding the solid ground?

Let’s examine where you must tread carefully. How can you avoid putting yourself in these places? If you must do so, how can you prepare properly? How can you discover people’s agendas? How can you rehearse? What might be the red flags? How can you manage potentially difficult moments? How can you keep your concentration? How can you be super professional?

Peak performers tend to stay on solid ground. They do what they do best in the places where they perform best. Frequently this happens after years spent trying to reach different audiences - but then they decide to focus. Committed to constant improvement, they continually use their imagination to innovate. But they do this in places where their contribution - their art or work - is appreciated. Trying to change their offering to reach a different audience can become their own dangerous ground. It is important to connect with people, but not at the expense of diluting their ‘A’ talent.

Conclude the exercise by describing two things: a) How you can build on the solid ground; b) How you can deal with the dangerous ground. Do your best in every situation - but focus on the projects, people and places where you can use your strengths. Try completing the following sentences.

The things I can do to build on the solid ground are:

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The things I can do to deal with the dangerous ground are:

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