PDF Summary:Do More More Naturally, by David Kolbe and Amy Bruske

Our cognitive processes shape how we approach challenges and tasks. In Do More Naturally, David Kolbe and Amy Bruske offer a method for identifying and utilizing your natural strengths in mental processing. They explain the three core components of cognition—intellect, emotions, and determination—and provide guidance on recognizing your innate tendencies.

The authors emphasize the importance of aligning your work with your "conative strengths"—your instinctive methods for taking action. By understanding and leveraging these strengths, you can boost your productivity and well-being. Furthermore, they suggest assembling diverse teams with complementary conative abilities to enhance creativity and collaboration.

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Our natural talent for problem-solving frequently encounters obstacles due to biases and preconceived notions.

The book primarily advocates for freeing ourselves from conventional beliefs that limit our perception of what it means to be successful. We have become used to thinking that there is only one right way to do things, which makes us feel like we're making mistakes when our efforts are more in line with our natural inclinations. Society frequently promotes the idea that it is necessary to endure discomfort, even when it contradicts our natural talents.

The authors caution against the mistaken belief that a single method for accomplishing tasks exists, an idea often formed by watching how others operate. They believe that this perspective might be harmful because it could lead individuals to work against their natural talents, which in turn saps their energy and makes their journey to personal fulfillment more difficult.

Context

• Media representations of success often highlight material wealth and fame, which can skew public perception and create unrealistic benchmarks for personal achievement.
• Many workplaces have rigid structures and processes that prioritize efficiency and uniformity over individual creativity, potentially stifling employees' natural problem-solving abilities.
• Traditional education systems often reward students for following specific methods to solve problems, which can perpetuate the idea that alternative approaches are incorrect.
• Observing others is a key component of social learning, where individuals learn behaviors and skills by watching and imitating others. This can sometimes lead to adopting methods that don't align with one's natural abilities.
• Societal norms often dictate certain paths to success, which may not align with an individual's natural talents. Challenging these norms can lead to more authentic and fulfilling life choices.

Leveraging our inherent mental capabilities enables us to utilize our intellectual assets judiciously.

The book suggests that tapping into one's innate conative abilities is crucial for attaining success effortlessly. Harmonizing your behavior with your natural inclinations boosts your mental efficiency.

Context

• These include knowledge, skills, and cognitive abilities that individuals possess. Using them judiciously means applying them in ways that maximize productivity and effectiveness.
• This involves adjusting one's actions and strategies to fit personal strengths and natural patterns, which can lead to improved outcomes and reduced stress.

Consider any postponement in taking action as a sign to delegate, discard, or reinvigorate tasks that are not within your realm of proficiency.

Postponing tasks is often seen as a negative, yet the authors emphasize that it can yield benefits as well. Consider procrastination a sign that a transformation is required.

Some activities may exhaust your cognitive reserves, resulting in a tendency to delay tasks.

The authors highlight that many people avoid their duties and are self-critical, without recognizing the actual cause of their reluctance. Procrastinating on certain tasks could indicate a misalignment with our innate inclinations or suggest that they require more mental energy than we have at the moment.

Practical Tips

• Design a "Self-Compassion Reminder" using a simple object like a bracelet or a sticker on your phone. Whenever you notice the object, use it as a cue to practice a moment of self-compassion, such as by acknowledging a recent success or offering yourself some kind words, to counteract the habit of self-criticism.
• Track your energy levels throughout the day to identify when you're most alert and align challenging tasks with those peak times. Use a simple notepad or a digital tool to record your mental energy at different hours for a week. You might find that you're more focused in the morning, making it the best time to tackle tasks you usually procrastinate on.

Preserve your energy by pinpointing activities that push the boundaries of your ease, thereby enabling you to concentrate on issues of greater importance.

Kolbe and Bruske recommend interpreting procrastination as a signal to delegate tasks, eliminate non-essential activities, or take a break to rejuvenate, rather than trying to change our inherent way of functioning. They teach that procrastination is simply a red flag you should pay attention to. Once you pinpoint the tasks that resonate with your goals, you can begin directing your mental energy toward endeavors that propel your ambitions forward and prioritize activities that bring you joy.

Context

• Taking breaks to rejuvenate is crucial for maintaining productivity and mental health. Regular breaks can prevent burnout and improve focus, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
• This approach encourages self-awareness and self-acceptance, promoting a work style that is sustainable and fulfilling over the long term.
• It may indicate that the task is not aligned with your core values or long-term goals, prompting a reevaluation of priorities.
• Incorporate mindfulness techniques to stay focused and present, which can help in better identifying tasks that truly resonate with your goals. This practice enhances clarity and decision-making.
• Employing time management techniques, such as the Pomodoro Technique or time blocking, can help maintain focus and ensure that energy is directed toward high-priority tasks.
• Joyful activities can lower cortisol levels, reducing stress and its negative effects on the body and mind.

Dedicate yourself to the effective utilization of your talents.

Concentrating on inherent talents requires a conscious commitment to mental exertion.

The authors stress the importance of recognizing that our cognitive resources are finite, which means we cannot always operate at peak productivity. They underscore the necessity of protecting and managing your vitality.

Consistently suppressing the innate tendency to tackle challenges can lead to increased stress and ultimately lead to burnout.

Continuously acting against your inherent abilities will inevitably lead to exhaustion. They describe this condition as "cognitive strain." The CEO of EOS Worldwide, Mark O'Donnell, shared an experience where he engaged in essential tasks that did not match his inherent abilities, which led him away from his intuitive approach to work.

Context

• Prolonged cognitive strain can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as individuals may feel constantly overwhelmed or inadequate.
• This involves relying on one's gut feelings or instincts to make decisions and solve problems. It contrasts with a more analytical or forced approach that might not align with a person's natural way of thinking.
• Techniques such as job crafting, where employees tailor their tasks to better fit their strengths, or regular feedback sessions to adjust roles, can help align work with inherent abilities.

Approaches to personal rejuvenation and sustaining optimal performance.

The authors emphasize the necessity of honing the rejuvenation of mental alertness to maintain peak functioning over prolonged periods. Recognizing that solely relying on rest and relaxation has limitations in contributing to your progress. Devise a plan to reduce the duration dedicated to activities that are not within your field of expertise. They suggest taking a brief pause to adjust your strategy to be more in sync with your inherent way of functioning. They also inspire people to follow a crucial guideline from Kathy Kolbe's set of five, which cautions against initiating action without viable solutions.

Context

• Staying hydrated is crucial, as even mild dehydration can impair cognitive functions and reduce alertness.
• Regularly reflecting on goals and strategies can provide insights and adjustments needed for ongoing development.
• Engaging in tasks outside your expertise can be mentally draining and reduce overall energy levels. By minimizing these activities, you can preserve energy for tasks that require your unique skills and insights.
• In practice, taking a pause to reassess and realign can involve setting aside time for reflection, seeking feedback, or experimenting with different approaches to find what feels most natural and effective.
• The guideline warns against acting without preparation, which can lead to inefficiencies or failures. It encourages thorough planning and understanding of potential outcomes.

Refusing to undertake tasks that are beyond your area of expertise is essential for staying true to your inherent working style.

Recognizing your strong points enables you to allocate your mental efforts wisely. Kolbe and Bruske stress the significance of intentionally selecting tasks that align with your abilities while avoiding those that fall outside your expertise.

Recognizing When a Request Goes Against You Helps Gracefully Decline and Suggest Better Options

The authors stress the significance of sometimes behaving contrary to your natural tendencies to benefit your group or family. Recognizing your unique method of operation can help you set boundaries and avoid conflicts when a task does not conform to your preferred approach. They provide advice on managing requests to take on tasks that do not align with your personal skills.

Other Perspectives

• The concept of a request going against someone is subjective and can vary greatly from person to person, making it difficult to apply as a universal principle.
• Consistently acting against one's natural tendencies can cause a loss of authenticity, potentially leading to trust issues within the group or family.
• Recognizing your unique method of operation may not always prevent conflicts, as others may still have expectations or demands that clash with your boundaries.
• There's a risk that emphasizing individual preferred approaches over team goals could lead to a lack of cohesion and unity within a group.
• Declining tasks based solely on current skill alignment might limit personal growth and opportunities for expanding one's skill set.
• Delegating or outsourcing every task that doesn't align with one's skills may not be practical or cost-effective, especially in resource-constrained environments.

Liberating energy through the alignment of duties with individual capabilities.

To significantly mitigate the impact, it's essential to come equipped with a varied set of options. The authors recommend assigning tasks to others, eliminating them entirely, or discovering alternative methods that align more effectively with your inherent abilities.

Context

• Exploring alternative methods to complete tasks can lead to innovative solutions and improvements in processes.
• Delegating tasks can empower team members, building trust and confidence as they take on responsibilities and contribute to the team’s success.
• Simplifying one's workload by eliminating tasks can lead to a clearer, more organized approach to work, reducing chaos and increasing the ability to concentrate on what truly matters.

Work together efficiently.

Work alongside people whose natural abilities enhance your own, thereby amplifying your creative and productive capabilities.

Kolbe and Bruske believe that collaboration is essential for achieving great things. They emphasize the importance of deliberately assembling a team, pointing out that a group composed of diverse individuals, rather than identical copies, will operate with greater efficiency and productivity. They demonstrate their argument by highlighting the synergy in musical collaborations, noting that the fusion of distinct talents and capabilities frequently yields outcomes that exceed what each individual could achieve alone.

Groups that harness the full spectrum of the dozen Kolbe Strengths™ generally outperform those with a narrower range of abilities.

The authors' research indicated that expanding a company's team by four individuals could potentially result in a sevenfold increase in its revenue. The enhancement of outcomes is achieved by purposefully assembling a team whose members possess natural talents that complement, rather than duplicate, each other's capabilities.

Context

• The potential for a sevenfold increase in revenue suggests that the right combination of diverse strengths can significantly enhance a company's ability to innovate, adapt, and meet market demands, thereby driving financial growth.
• Complementary talents can reduce conflict and increase collaboration within a team. When team members understand and appreciate each other's natural strengths, they can allocate tasks more effectively and support each other's efforts.

Assigning Tasks by Conative Strengths Reduces Friction

When assigning responsibilities within a team, it's essential to consider the inherent capabilities each person brings to their approach to work. They advise regarding inherent talents as tactical components in a strategy game akin to chess. Determining each team member's distinct strengths is crucial for allocating appropriate tasks within a project and identifying the optimal moments for them to lead.

Acknowledging and utilizing our inherent behaviors is also crucial for successful teamwork. Kolbe and Bruske stress that conative strengths not only drive the way we work but how we communicate with each other as well. Gaining insight into your natural abilities and acknowledging your colleagues' capabilities can enhance communication and, as a result, bolster teamwork.

Context

• Conative strengths refer to the natural, instinctive ways individuals take action and approach tasks. Unlike cognitive abilities (thinking) or affective traits (feeling), conative strengths focus on doing and problem-solving styles.
• Emphasizing inherent capabilities supports diversity and inclusion by valuing different approaches and perspectives. It encourages leveraging a wide range of strengths, leading to more innovative solutions.
• In chess, each piece has unique movements and roles, similar to how individuals have distinct strengths and ways of contributing to a team. Recognizing these differences allows for strategic task assignment, maximizing each person's potential.
• Identifying optimal leadership moments can also serve as a development tool, helping team members grow their skills in a supportive environment.
• Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor.
• Conative strengths influence how people prefer to communicate. Understanding these preferences can lead to more effective exchanges of ideas and reduce miscommunication.

Imparting insights on teamwork can equip your peers to provide assistance during challenging times.

Recognizing your natural inclinations for initiating actions enables you to advise others on the most effective methods of working alongside you. As someone who collects information, it's crucial to convey to your team the necessity of conducting a thorough inquiry before drawing a conclusion. The authors advise transparently sharing your inherent needs to enhance comprehension and boost efficiency.

Context

• Encouraging flexibility allows teams to adjust to changing circumstances and unexpected challenges more smoothly.
• Recognizing one's own natural inclinations can also aid in personal development, as individuals can focus on enhancing their strengths and addressing areas that may require growth.
• Sharing detailed information fosters clearer communication among team members, reducing misunderstandings and aligning goals.
• By being open about your inherent needs, you minimize misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding expectations and processes.

Leverage the diverse range of natural talents to foster a culture that values profound comprehension and reciprocal esteem.

Drawing on the knowledge from your Kolbe A Index allows you to recognize your unique innate abilities and appreciate the diverse skills within your team. Our comprehension fosters a mutual respect for the unique contributions we each make.

Context

• Unlike personality tests, which assess traits and preferences, the Kolbe A Index identifies how people are likely to behave when they are free to act according to their instincts.
• Teams can use the insights from the Kolbe A Index to assign roles and responsibilities that align with each member's strengths, optimizing performance and satisfaction.
• Fostering a culture of respect and appreciation for diverse contributions can enhance employee engagement and retention, as team members feel valued and understood.