Managing your Talents [29] - Significance

By Dries Lombaard

According to Gallup, the essence of the talent theme of Significance is the following:

"You want to be very significant in the eyes of other people. In the truest sense of the word you want to be recognized. You want to be heard. You want to stand out. You want to be known. In particular, you want to be known and appreciated for the unique strengths you bring. You feel a need to be admired as credible, professional, and successful. Likewise, you want to associate with others who are credible, professional, and successful. And if they aren’t, you will push them to achieve until they are. Or you will move on. An independent spirit, you want your work to be a way of life rather than a job, and in that work you want to be given free rein, the leeway to do things your way. Your yearnings feel intense to you, and you honor those yearnings. And so your life is filled with goals, achievements, or qualifications that you crave. Whatever your focus — and each person is distinct — your Significance theme will keep pulling you upward, away from the mediocre toward the exceptional. It is the theme that keeps you reaching.

But a talent like this on itself is quite meaningless unless you develop and manage it.  That is why we believe that "a well managed talent becomes a strength, but a mismanaged talent becomes a detriment".

How do you manage the talent of Significance?

Significance is probably one of the most misunderstood talent themes of them all.  People who do not understand this talent can very easily project on it as a negative character trait. 
One of the main reasons for this is because Significance cannot function behind the scenes. It's essence in contribution lies in its visibility, influence and impact.  This is why some people may regard this talent as "attention seeking", always seeking out the limelight and needing the applause.  This is not necessarily the case at all.  When miss managed, then Significance will for sure come over as all of the above, with an arrogant edge to it. The difficulty is that this "importance" of the stage and the limelight is exactly where the strength of this talent resides. This is why you often find Significance with politicians and celebrities - they are built for the stage.  But, management is needed for sure....

How?

First off all, realize that you have natural presence.  You need not try to create it - people already sense it in you, if you are authentic.  Thus, keep back on "trying to be significant"...just be yourself. The moment you put more nervy into creating some image of significance in yourself, it will easily be seen as arrogance.  Trust your talent to flow naturally.  Do not force it.  Study those people who you regard as being significant - your mentors, heroes and idols, and watch hoe those who achieve most are most humble.  They are also themselves.  Learn from this.  Your Significance talent will take you to the absolute top of your game, if you manage it with humility and grace.

Your talent of Significance needs guidance and mentoring.  This is crucial to achieve your need to leave a legacy. 
Without significant people who invest in you, your Significance talent may not develop into its potential ever.  Make sure you rub shoulders with people you regard as significant - but make sure it is the right people for you!

How?

Your Significance is a drive towards a purpose....a legacy.  You need to figure out what this purpose of significance is to you specifically.  This may take some time on your life journey, but be intentional to find your purpose.  Then, seek out people and resources to support you towards that exact purpose.  Get the right mentors by being bold and asking them to mentor you.  Read books that aligns with your purpose.  Remember that your Significance could be drawn off course if you are influenced by the wrong people - wrong in the sense that they do not support your purpose.  Be very intentional about this!

Go out and be significant!  It will be your legacy.