Photo by Philip Swinburn on Unsplash

Staring up at the pegboard above the workbench that was both out of my childish reach and appreciation of shiny things, my Grandfather told me of the value of using the right tools to do  good work. His tools were hung carefully by type of tool. He had four different hammers hanging side by side. I remember asking why he needed more than one. He took the largest one down and handed it to me while picking up a tiny finishing nail with his other hand. I needed two hands to hold the hammer, it was so heavy! I distinctly remember him asking me if the tiny nail looked to be the right size for the hammer’s head which was wide and heavy. I shook my head No. Then he took the big hammer, hung it back in it’s place and brought down a much smaller hammer with a ball on one side. That one fits! I told him. He smiled and asked if I understood why you might need more than one tool to do the job well.

I tell you this childhood memory in hopes to illustrate the value of having more than one tool for building a foundation for your personal and professional growth. In my coaching practice I use many different tools and techniques with women to help grow their awareness of their temperament, strengths, blindspots, and self-limiting beliefs. We may use Myers-Briggs Temperament Inventory, DiSC profile, StrengthsFinders and the Enneagram of Personality to gain greater understanding and perspective for their hows and whys.  Because I am a Christ-follower, I coach keeping the soul of the woman in view; if you are a person of faith, we might include a spiritual gifts inventory as well as the Sacred Pathways inventory from the book of the same name by Gary Thomas.

Why so much information? 

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Any and all of the results are valuable in creating awareness, in gaining perspective for your behaviors and motivations, and most of all to give a clearer picture of who and where you are now in order to prepare to take the next right step to thrive in your work, life & faith.

Action step: rest and recreate. It’s Friday.