Peter Drucker: Managing Oneself

Ask, What are my strengths?

A person can only perform from strength

The only way to discover strengths is through feedback analysis: Whenever you make a key decision or take a key action, write down what you expect will happen. Afterward, compare the results with your expectations. 

Put yourself where your strengths can produce results 

Go to work on acquiring the skills and knowledge you need to fully realize your strengths. 

Next, remedy your bad habits, the things that inhibit your effectiveness and performance. 

One should waste as little effort as possible on improving areas of low competence. It takes far more energy and work to improve from incompetence to mediocrity than it takes to improve first-rate performance into excellence. 

Ask, How do I perform?

How one performs is unique. It is a matter of personality. 

A person's way of performing can be slightly modified, but is unlikely to be completely changed. 

People achieve results by doing what they're good at, and by working in ways that they best perform. 

A few common personality traits determine how a person performs:

Am I a reader or a Listener?

How do I learn? 

You can learn by writing, by taking copious notes, by hearing yourself talk...

Do I work well with other people, or am I a loner?

If you work well with people, in what relationship do you work best?

Do I produce results as a decision maker or as an adviser? 

Decision makers need advisors and advisers need decision makers. Decision makers need to be forced to think and advisors need to escape the burden and pressure of making a decision. 

This is why the number 2 often fails in an organization when promoted to the number 1. The top spot requires a decision maker. 

Do I perform well under stress, or do I need a highly structured and predictable environment?

Do I work best in a big organization or a small one?

Ask, What are my values?

Apply the "mirror test" 

What kind of person do I want to see in the mirror in the morning?

Ask, Where do I belong?

Ask, What should I contribute?

What does the situation require?

Given my strengths, my way of performing, my values, how can I make the greatest contribution to what needs to be done?

And, what results have to be achieved to make a difference?

Remember, each works his or her way, not your way. Tailor your approach to the values, strengths, etc. of others.