Some people have lopsided personalities. They may be brilliant in some areas but totally blank in others. Warren Buffett described himself in this way. Here is a summary of what he said:
“I have a lopsided personality. I am brilliant with numbers but I cannot tell you the colour of the wallpaper in my room at home. Even though I have lived in the same house for over fifty years.”
A person with a lopsided personality may see things quickly in one area of life. They can tell you exactly what is happening and what is about to happen. In other areas they don’t see a thing.
Great workers sometimes demonstrate characteristics that may be labelled as aspects of autism, OCD, savant qualities or another name. Some individuals learn how channel those characteristics in a positive way. Let’s explore how they may take this approach.
Some individuals recognise they
may have a lopsided personality
Some individuals get to a point where they recognise they may have a lopsided personality. Different people do this in different ways and at different stages of their lives.
Some people take this step through raising their own awareness. They may learn about other people who demonstrate such characteristics. They may read books, watch films or gather knowledge about people who behave in certain ways and go on to do great work.
Some people take this step through others helping them to recognise their strengths. A parent, teacher, coach or another person may help them to see they have great abilities in some areas but not in others.
Today it is more common for individuals who have elements of dyslexia, synaesthesia, autism or other characteristics to be told to build on their abilities. Some talk about using their super strengths whilst also recognising they may have shortcomings in other areas.
Some individuals may also be considered to be twice-gifted or twice-exceptional. They may have great ability in some areas and also demonstrate great resilience to manage certain disabilities.
Can you think of ways in which you may have elements of a lopsided personality? What are the specific areas where you may have the ability to be brilliant? What are those where you may be totally blank?
One person described aspects of their personality in the following way.
“I am good at solving certain kinds of problems but am hopeless in other areas. My partner said it took years to understand this was the case.
“They could not understand why I was so good at managing certain kinds of crisis but that I am nature blind. I can anticipate what is going to happen in certain areas but cannot tell you about the trees and flowers in our garden.”
Some individuals build on the
strengths of their lopsided personality
Some individuals recognise that they excel in the intelligences that are rewarded by the school system. They may be good at writing, music, maths, art, science or other subjects.
Some may excel in other types of intelligence. They may be good at helping people, creative thinking, selling, inventing or in an activity that is not rewarded by academia.
Some individuals have parents, teachers or other people who help them to develop their talents. Many dyslexic young people, for example, have been helped by adults who supported their abilities in creative work, cooking, selling, dance, leadership or other activities.
Some individuals may get to a point where they experience a eureka moment. This leads them to saying something along the following lines.
“I am going concentrate on the areas where I am able to do stimulating work and deliver success.”
Such people then sometimes aim: a) to do what they do best; b) to do their best; c) to make their best contribution towards helping other people to achieve success.
This approach can help them to make a living doing what they love. At the same time, it can be important for them to develop the following skill.
Some individuals manage the consequences
of the weaknesses of their lopsided personality
Some individuals recognise that, whilst they can be brilliant in some activities, they can have blind spots in certain areas. They may get away with some of these if they are positive and treat other people with respect.
They may be like the classic mad professor who regarded fondly for their brilliance and their quirks. Such a person may get by because people see them as a great asset.
Some individuals may be totally blank in certain areas of life, however, and this can have consequences. It may result in them causing harm to themselves or other people.
They may be great at caring for strangers but sometimes neglect their loved ones. They be superb at teaching maths but have a gambling problem. They may be good at making decisions in their professional life but poor in their personal life.
Some individuals build on their strengths and learn how to manage their consequences of their weaknesses. The second part can be challenging, however, because they can become preoccupied and not notice they are behaving in a certain way.
One approach is for a person to recognise the triggers that show they may be drifting into difficult territory. They can then aim: a) to buy time to think; b) to consider the possible options going forward; c) to rehearse following their chosen option. They can then move into action.
Let’s return to your own life and work. If you wish, try tackling the exercise on the themes we have considered. This invites you to explore the following themes
First, to describe the specific ways you may demonstrate elements of having a lopsided personality.
Second, to describe the specific things you can do to build on the strengths of this personality.
Third, to describe the specific things you can do to manage the other consequences of this personality.
Here is the exercise. It invites you to complete the following sentences.
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