- “Here’s the question: What is my unique ability? (There’s a special skill I’m gifted with. This unique ability, fully realized and put to work, can provide enormous benefits to me and any organization I serve.) We’re in search of the deepest essentials here; if you look into the essence of who you really are at the deepest level, you’ll find a unique gift you’ve been blessed with. That gift is your greatest contribution to the people around you. It’s the pinnacle skill of your working life. You can also use it to great benefit in your nonworking life. (The ability is not unique in the whole world. There may be millions of people who have it. However, it’s usually unique in your particular circle or work setting.)” The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (Gay Hendricks)- Page 131
- “Do you know what your unique ability is? You may have discovered it already, but if you haven’t, I’d like to show you how to find it. First, let me share with you an image I like to use. Have you seen a set of those little Russian dolls? When you open the big doll there’s a smaller one inside it, and hidden within that doll there’s an even smaller one. Using that image, think of your unique ability as a skill within a skill within a skill. Here’s what I mean: your unique ability is usually camouflaged inside a larger skill you possess. You may not even realize that your unique ability is what is driving your success in applying the larger skill…. My unique ability occurs within the larger skill of helping people solve problems. The best way I can describe it is that I can be with people in a certain way that enables them to come up with creative solutions they hadn’t thought of before. I can create a space that brings forth innovative solutions from inside myself or from people I’m working with. I can feel this ability inside me right now. It’s a feeling of respect for the creative process, coupled with a nonjudgmental listening for something new to emerge. I can wait patiently as long as it takes for a new solution to emerge. Possibly because I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes, it usually doesn’t take long.” The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (Gay Hendricks)- Page 132 -133