Last year we decided to have a big event celebrating the faculty who help students with career preparation. Since we were in the middle of a pandemic, the whole thing was held virtually. Except for the SWAG. Once the campus reopened, we set about delivering goodie bags to about 120 faculty career catalysts. We were mostly successful, but a few people had moved on, so we need to mail their swag bags to them.
Now one thing I hate, is packing and shipping. But when I shared this dread of task with one of my new co-workers, she quickly volunteered. “Shipping packages is my jam!” I could have just grumbled my way through a task I really dislike, but a simple conversation helped me discover that someone else was good at it and enjoyed it.
I’ve seen this dynamic play out in other environments, and I am so thankful for people who enjoy doing things that I don’t. Or that I’m not good at. And I love contributing the things I enjoy or am good at that others might not like to do. It pays to be intentional about asking what part of the project they are excited about and what they dread. Of course, there may still be tasks that are nobody’s favorite, but there may be fewer of them than you might assume.
Puzzle Pieces Coaching 