Bright, talented and articulate, he’s ready to do anything and seems poised to do it all. Yet he’s stuck.
He’s the pin of a pin wheel, seeing multiple possibilities spinning by and instead of grabbing hold, is overwhelmed by them all.
He’s concerned that:
He’s a jack of all trades and master of none.
His eclectic interests attract him to a variety of opportunities.
He can’t focus on one job and dedicate himself to it.
This Jack is frustrated that his path to success looks more like a circular driveway.
What’s needed here is a a healthy change of perspective.
At their best, jacks of all trades are multi-talented, knowing a little about a lot and having the confidence to try most of them. They learn quickly and apply their learning in practical ways. They are typically helpful, wanting to share their newly discovered abilities and are ready for the challenge that comes from learning in the moment. Mistakes become “teachable moments”. Possibilities become opportunities for success.
What’s the application?
Jack should learn to describe himself in terms of the projects he enjoys doing, and the style that he prefers using.
What’s the job title he’s looking for?
With a successful track record he can go for positions of Project Manager or Project Director.
What’s the difference?
Project Managers are more hands-on and better at coordinating projects than people. They prefer to take their lead from the one in charge, and deliver the goods based upon the boss’s concrete and explicit expectations.
Project Directors are charged with and enjoy the design, development and execution of the project. They are hands-off, preferring to delegate the details to those designated to do that work. They coordinate the people, who in turn, coordinate the project.
What’s the Good News?
Jack likes projects because they provide the challenge, variety, flexibility, mobility and closure that he craves and that enable him stay with an assignment long enough to complete it.
What’s the Bad News?
Jack has a short attention span. Once the challenge and excitement of a new project has passed, his interest begins to wane. If he can’t close the project in fairly short order, his mind wanders until he locks onto something more exciting.
Is there a fail-safe plan?
If Jack works on projects that he’s interested in and cares about doing, he’s more likely to stay with them until they’re done. Jack makes that happen by finding opportunities: problems that need to be solved to improve efficiencies or effectiveness. Employers prefer assertive, can-do self starters who initiate this process, rather than those who sit and wait to be handed their assignments.
What’s next?
Jack will have to discipline himself to prioritize his projects and limit their number or he’ll be stuck in the pinwheel again.
Jack will have to be persuasive to get the job done. Without having the line manager’s clout or influence, Jack will learn that finesse is as important as function.
Jack’s ultimate success will depend on his team’s success. As their leader it will be his job to ensure that they share a common vision and believe that it’s worth the effort to make it happen. If they trust Jack and he models the behaviors that he expects from them, they will trust each other to communicate openly, efficiently and effectively.
It’s high time that Jack decides to take the wheel instead of being stuck in the middle of it.
