This is an approach used by encouragers, educators, coaches and others who help people to do satisfying work. They watch a person in action or see an example of their work.
They then focus on the specific activities where a person may be able:
To build on their strengths;
To do consistently superb work;
To sometimes do something special and demonstrate star quality.
Different people will demonstrate these qualities in different activities. Here are some examples that I have seen when working with people in different situations.
The Sales Person
One person I worked with had difficulties reading but had certain strengths. They were creative, resilient and good at sales. This was where they demonstrated star quality.
The person also had elements of synaesthesia. They said things like: ‘I can smell a deal,’ and ‘I taste numbers.’ They followed their own way of working and constantly exceeded their sales targets.
The Coordinator
This person had a track record of coordinating people’s efforts to achieve a specific goal. They came from a loving but sometimes challenging family. As the eldest sister, they often took responsibility for taking care of practical things.
During their university years they acted as the social secretary for the travel club and also stage manager for the drama group. They learned how to organise events and meet deadlines.
Moving on to employment, they became the Personal Assistant to a brilliant but difficult boss. They then moved on to becoming a full-time coordinator who led projects across a company.
They were good at being able: a) to clarify the brief; b) to put together motivated teams that wanted to deliver the outcomes; c) to coordinate people’s efforts to deliver the goals. This is where they demonstrated star quality.
Recognising Star Quality
Imagine that you want to focus on where a person may demonstrate elements of this approach. You may aim to do this as an educator, coach, mentor or in another role. If appropriate, you can take the following steps.
You can watch the person in action
or see examples of their work
It is important to study the person in several different situations. For example:
A footballer may be brilliant in one position but not in another … An educator may be superb when teaching certain kinds of students but not with others.
A singer may move into another dimension when performing some kinds of songs but not others … A technical person may excel at solving certain technical problems but not others.
A pioneer may be good at leading pacesetting teams but not other teams … A strategic advisor may be brilliant when working with certain kinds of leadership teams but not with others.
You can explore the following themes
when watching the person in action
or seeing an example of their work
Imagine that you have watched a person in action or seen an example of their work. You may then want to explore the following themes.
What is the specific activity where the person delivers As rather than Bs or Cs? When are they are in their element – at ease and yet able to excel? When do they follow their passion and achieve peak performance?
When do they quickly see the destination – the real result to achieve? When go they go ‘A, B … and leap to Z?’ Where do they have a track record of finishing properly and delivering Z?’
What are the activities where they scan the situation and see patterns quickly? Where do they have good radar and are able to know what will happen before it happens? When do they use this ability to deliver the desired results?
When do they deliver high professional standards? If I was an employer, what are the specific things that I would hire the person to deliver? What would be the benefits of them delivering these things?
What are the specific activities where they build on their strengths, do superb work and deliver success? When do they do something special and demonstrate star quality.
You can encourage the person to build on
the specific activities where they may
have the ability to demonstrate star quality
Imagine that you have recognised an activity where a person may be able to demonstrate star quality. If appropriate, you can take the following steps.
You can create an encouraging environment where the person feels at ease and able to explore. You may do this when working as an educator, coach, mentor in another role.
If appropriate, you may then say something along the following lines. You will obviously do this in your own way.
“As you know, I have had the chance to watch you in action and see an example of your work.
“Self-development is vital. Bearing this in mind, you have already evaluated the piece of work you did. You aimed to clarify: a) what you did well; b) what you could do better in the future.
“If you wish, is it okay for me to share some views about your strengths?
Let’s assume that the person says this is okay. You may then say something along the following lines.
“The specific activity where I saw you play to your strengths was …
“The specific things you did then to play to your strengths and translate these into action were:
“To … For example …
“To … For example …
“To … For example …
“The superb work you did then was …
“The specific time when you did something special and showed you had the ability to demonstrate star quality was …
“If you are interested, you can take some time to reflect and focus on the following things.
“First, the specific things I said about your strengths that resonate with you.
“Second, the specific things I said about your strengths that maybe surprised you or added to your knowledge.
“Third, the specific strengths you would like to build on these strengths. We can then explore how you can continue to do superb work and deliver success.”
Imagine that the person wants to build on their strengths. You can then help them: a) to set a specific goal they want to achieve; b) to follow strategies that work; c) to do their best to achieve their picture of success.
Let’s return to your own life and work. Looking ahead, can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of the star quality approach? This could be in your personal or professional life.
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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