There are many ways to do fine work. People who are shapers aim to stay ahead of the game and deliver success. Let’s consider how you may want to follow this approach in your own way.
Shaping
Professor Meredith Belbin popularised the term shaper with his work on the various personality types in successful teams. Here is how such individuals are described on the Belbin website.
The Shaper
Style. They provide the necessary drive to ensure the team keeps moving and does not lose focus or momentum.
Strengths. They are challenging, dynamic and thrive on pressure. They have the drive and courage to overcome obstacles.
Allowable weaknesses. They can be prone to provocation and may sometimes offend people’s feelings.
Don’t be surprised to find that. They could risk becoming aggressive and bad humoured in their attempts to get things done.
People like to shape things in their personal and professional lives. Here are some of the ways they may follow this approach.
Personal Life
They have a positive attitude and aim to shape their feelings. They behave in ways that help themselves and others to feel good. If they feel bad, they do something that will result in them feeling good
They aim to be proactive. They like to feel in control by planning ahead and organising the practical tasks. This enables them to have the space to do other things in their lives.
They put their energy into doing positive things. They spend time with positive people with whom they feel at ease. They do projects – such as writing, playing music or other activities – that they find satisfying.
Professional Life
They aim to shape things in their professional life. They recognise, however, that this sometimes means working within certain parameters. They then focus on what they can control and make clear contracts about the autonomy they have to deliver the goods.
They aim to follow strategies that work. They build on their strengths, follow their successful style and pursue the strategies most like to achieve success. They also behave in a positive and professional way to all their stakeholders.
They aim to deliver success. They keep doing superb work, giving great service and finding solutions to challenges. They keep focusing on continuous improvement and do their best to achieve success.
Let’s return to your own life and work. What are the specific activities where you like to shape things? Here are some of the answers that people give when exploring this theme.
I like to look ahead and shape things when I am:
Taking care of my health … Developing my area of expertise … Anticipating trends in the market … Leading my team … Helping my customers to succeed … Aiming to achieve peak performance.
Imagine that you have focused on a specific activity where you like to shape things. It can then be time to explore the next stage.
Staying Ahead Of The Game
Shapers aim to stay ahead of the game in their chosen field. Different people do this in different ways. Some take the following steps.
Continuing To Be Proactive
Great workers aim to stay on the front foot. They aim to make things happen rather than just let things happen. This calls for being proactive, looking ahead and planning how to increase the chances of success.
Continuing To Anticipate
How To Manage Future Events
Such workers focus on their chosen activity. They then look ahead to anticipate potential events and challenges. This involves exploring the following themes.
What may happen in my chosen field in the future? What may be the likely innovations? What may be the potential challenges? How can I use my strengths to manage these innovations and challenges successfully?
Continuing To Do Pacesetting Work
Shapers aim to do pacesetting work. They often have a different kind of psychology. They aim to take the lead, maintain the lead and extend the lead. They make the new rules for the game.
Such people may introduce a new paradigm – a new way of looking at the world – that can bring success. They also show how taking this approach can be practical and, in the broadest sense of the word, profitable.
Imagine that you aim to follow some of these steps in your own way. It may then be time to focus on the next stage.
Success
Shapers aim to deliver the goods in their chosen field. This involves being able to manage today’s business whilst also shaping tomorrow’s businesses. Some do it by focusing on the following framework.
Such people follow the strategies that can deliver the goods both today and tomorrow. They then do their best to shape a positive future and achieve ongoing success.
Let’s return to your own work. Imagine that you want to follow elements of this approach in your own way? How can you stay ahead of the game?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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