The nature of organizations has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Today, employers and employees both understand few show up thinking they will collect their ‘gold watch’ after 25 years of service. Instead, individuals are responsible to carve and erect their career paths. Individuals need to keep themselves engaged in a work life that might span more than 50 years. And, to do this requires a deep understanding of self, and understanding of self is a cornerstone of Aesthetic Intelligence. Peter Drucker said, “Only when you operate from a combination of your strengths and self knowledge can you achieve true and lasting excellence”. This familiar but timeless wisdom holds true today. So, let’s revisit Drucker’s 5 questions first introduced in the article, Managing Oneself, HBR, 1999:

• What are my strengths? (how do you know, what do you do to strengthen them and how do you use this knowledge to establish, and manage relationships?)
• How do I work? (how do you learn? are you a reader or listener? do you prefer solo to groups?)
• What are my values? (and are they consistent with your organization’s values/)
• Where do I belong? (is my role the optimal, the best fit for me?)
• What can I contribute? (how will I use my self-knowledge and strengths to make a difference in my organization, community, society?)

Without these answers, most people waste time improving skill areas where they have little competence, or try to modify ‘personality’ traits that cannot be changed. Drucker and authors that are more recent advise us to play to our strengths. What do you think? What stories can you share?