Is it possible that what the world teaches as weakness is in fact our greatest virtue? What if this same supposed “weakness” is not just our greatest virtue, but also a greatest source of strength? One brilliant videographer postulated these ideas, and I’m curious what you think. Watch this brief clip, and share your opinion about it in the comments below.
For the record, here’s an opinion for you to consider.
Human beings crave connection, contribution to something bigger than self and community. We are born into the world this way and yet, we have been conditioned that accomplishment and success come from operating from independence. Our default human operating system, our reptilian brain is wired for protection, safety and independence. When at our core and in our soul, we seek belonging, meaning and interdependence.
Independence carries the mindset of “I serve me”. The associated language and energy is “me”-centered which can be temporarily liberating as you take control and get things done. Yet consider the impact as you shut yourself off from the perspective, contributions and involvement of others. By “going it alone” you are limited by your lens and what you see. You are disregarding others’ input and contributions, stifling creativity and innovation and creating toxicity. You cannot be at interdependence with a “What’s in it for me?” mindset.
What if you expanded your perspective to include others? What if there was a way you could nonjudgmentally bring your strengths, contributions, and perspective and invite and include others’ too? What would the impact be?
The Interdependent Mindset
The interdependent mindset is abundant, accepting, and curious. As People Acuity, a Strengths Strategy Company teaches us, interdependence is focused on serving us: you and me. It is inclusive, invites possibilities and honors each person’s talents and contributions, including your own, without fear or judgment. The interdependent mindset creates the space for high performance and high energy producing better human and business results. It is where you demonstrate both confidence in who you are and what you have to contribute, and the vulnerability to acknowledge that you do not need to know or do it all by yourself. In modeling this behavior, you invite others to do the same.
Interdependence is where your greatest contributions, results and relationships happen. It is where you experience your highest levels of fulfillment, energy and joy. Interdependence recognizes that each person is uniquely talented, brings different contributions and has different needs. At interdependence, there is acceptance (rather than judgment), curiosity (rather than fear), and an abundance mindset (rather than scarcity thinking).
Interdependence is paradoxically your innate human state. Yet, if you’re like most people you have difficulty seeing this. It is uncomfortable because it goes against your primitive human wiring and conditioning. You may fear the vulnerability it requires to let go of thinking you need to be perfect or to be able to do everything. You might fear being seen as less than or “not being good enough.” These stories limit your ability to expand your awareness, be curious and clearly see possibilities in the present.
What does this mean for business? In case you haven’t noticed, Interdependence is the wave of the future! It embodies the abundance mindset and unconditional curiosity needed to bring the kind of creativity and innovation that a scarcity-driven mindset cannot see. It is a people-focused, expansive approach that values each person’s unique contributions without judgment. Interdependence is beyond mere bottom-line thinking that holds individuals and organizations back from experiencing optimal human and business results.
How would expanding your awareness and application of interdependence shift your personal or business outcomes? What would this mean for you, your family, and the people you care about? You might be surprised at the power this mindset might bring to your world – if you’re willing to challenge your own lens of perception.
To learn more, you may be interested in downloading the free e-book, Dealing With People Who Make You Crazy found at: http://bit.ly/2yzrL8y. This includes an introductory look at the role of Interdependence in helping to create relationship change with difficult people.
This blog comes from the People Acuity Co-Thought Leader Community and is written by Brian Kelly and DeAnna Murphy.
Brian Kelly is a Faculty Coach, SSCC and Certified People Acuity Specialist™ at People Acuity, a Strengths Strategy Company. He is a strengths-centered human development thought-leader and strategist committed to developing our current and next generation of leaders and bringing greater inclusion and diversity to the board room. He works with individuals and teams to effectively apply their unique strengths to improve their performance, energy, and relationships so they may interdependently thrive.
DeAnna Murphy, a 23-year organizational development veteran, author, and keynote speaker, is also the CEO of People Acuity, an affiliate of Strengths Strategy, which is in 33 countries, and includes over 300 practitioners across the globe. Her first book, Shift Up! Strengths Strategies for Optimal Living will be available on Amazon on January 9, 2018.