What is a True Contributor (Part 2)

Contributors,

In last week's post, we learned that it’s not enough to want  to grow - you also need the tools to do it.  You can’t just talk the talk.  You have to walk the walk.

WALKING THE WALK

The True Contributors training program takes the guess work out of walking the walk.  We’ve used our research background and real life experience in leadership and management to think through the toolbox of skills that you need to get past the inevitable stumbling blocks of development and tap into your potential.  Today, we’re going to provide a short explanation of the theoretical foundation of our process.  Then YOU get to implement one of our tools into your life through a short exercise.

THE CRITICAL TRIAD

 Our approach is rooted in what we call the Critical Triad – an organizational model we’ve developed in which every person operates as: 1) a contributor, 2) a team member, and 3) an organizational player. 

Rather than using an org chart to determine what skills you need, we instead consider the different roles that you play.  You are, in each and every moment of your personal and professional life, a contributor.  That means you have something to do, to create, and to provide.  You're also a team member – using your knowledge and skills to contribute to a team outcome.  And, you’re an organizational player – because the outcomes of you, as an individual, and of your team, make an impact or tie into the work of the larger organization.

Here’s the key takeaway:

The best and most skilled team members are strong in all three pieces of the Triad  - they have presence, form trust, and communicate effectively.  They move back and forth between their roles as individual contributors, team members, and organizational players almost effortlessly – often synthesizing the three roles simultaneously.  They are the A players, the success makers, the strategic executors, and the problem solvers – the True Contributors. 

LETS PUT THIS TO PRACTICE:

This week look at the Critical Triad and write down your:

1) Strengths as a contributor, team member, and organization player; and

2) Your growth areas as a contributor, team member, and organizational player.

 Think of it this way: Where do you thrive?  Where do you shrivel?

For extra credit: take this to your boss, your colleagues, to a trusted friend or partner, and ask them to note where they agree and where they disagree.  (It can be as simple as a circle where they agree and an X where they don’t.) Ask them for honesty and be ready to receive it with a mindset for growth (more on that later).

Next week, we’ll go through the “competencies” of the first portion of the Triad - the Contributor - so you can examine your capabilities and opportunities in more depth.

See you then,

Dr. Nahed A. Zehr

P.S. Want to share your assessment with us?  We’d love to see it.  You can send it to me directly at nahed@truecontributors.com or tag us on any of our social media platforms.