three things to do with a “problem preference”
Here are three ways you can use a problem preference:
Name the preference and shape a role around it. Often a problem preference is a thing that sits at the intersection of a) stuff you’re good at and b) stuff that your client / customer / community needs. That intersection is a fun place to operate and it can be a really effective one, too. It’s possible your team will get more and better stuff from you if you can devote more of your attention here.
Building a proactive calendar for its inverse / opposite. You may be in a situation like a K-12 teacher, where there’s not a ton of flexibility to re-define your responsibilities in a given year. These kids are in your class and you’re responsible for them til June. You manage this account and that’s that, at least until Q2 next year. The problem preference can shed light on your problem dis-preferences. I find it helpful to block in ahead of time the deadlines and the dedicated work time on my problem dispreferences. That way I’m not (as much) at the mercy of my own preferences late in a day / week / project. When I’m tired and the problem preference and the problem dispreference both sit in front of me, I’m even more inclined than usual to pick the problem preference, potentially at the expense of the overall project.
Expand the preference set through learning. If we accept the premise that you prefer to work on things you’re good at, one useful route can be getting good at more things. You’re less likely to avoid something you’re confident you can do well. Practice, observe all-stars, get and implement feedback. Avoid telling yourself that you’re “not a ____ person.”
-eric
