Intro
Remember back in school, we found learning a few subjects more difficult than others? Did we have an option not to learn those? I wanted to understand what exactly made the subject difficult for me. I was honest enough to tell myself – the subject is just that – a subject. It cannot make itself easy or difficult. It is me who finds it difficult.
In those days, I used a framework to introspect myself. More often than not, I did reach an answer with it. The framework involved asking myself two specific questions. That’s it, just two questions. Over the years, I realised there was a need to add a third to it as well. So, I did.
As I progressed in my career and juggled between jobs, such introspection took a backseat. But (now) for a self-management trainer, this did surface again from the subconscious. I realised this framework could be well utilised to introspect, overcome hurdles and manage/develop oneself further. One can apply the framework to various aspects of life – both personal and professional – be it tasks, activities, opportunities, situations, etc.
Some reading cues
| Sr. No. | For Quick Readers | For Full Read & Practice |
| 1 | Select one example you can relate to | Grab a piece of paper |
| 2 | Ignore exercises | Select at least one of four examples |
| 3 | Skip reading additional information | Read the framework question, understand the logic |
| 4 | Don’t miss the cues | Note your answer to each framework question |
| 5 | Share your breakthrough results |
Additional information: Create this table for practising
| Example | Question 1 | Question 2 | Question 3 |
| Selected example 1 | |||
| Selected example 2 | |||
| Selected example 3 |
Examples
Let’s see some examples before we dive into the concepts. I share two examples from my previous experiences. The other two are created out of my limited imagination. The intent is to cover both sides – my story (involves more precision) and a situation you can step in.
- Opportunity
A top B-School invites me to address their students on Wealth Management (replace with your domain expertise). I have addressed at a few B-schools before. But this invite comes from a top B-School. How do I look at this? Is it a challenge or an opportunity? How should I prepare? Or should I just do what the social media platform says – ‘Be myself, the world will adjust’? Or something on lines – ‘Go with the flow’?
- Situation
I travelled to London for work in 2013, the first time I travelled overseas. I had to be there for about six months. Soon after, I visited a nearby mall to get supplies. This mall was much different from the ones back home. I had never seen or heard of a lot of products stacked on shelves. The mall ran understaffed who’d hardly understand my accent. I needed help. Am I comfortable asking for help?
III. Task
You bagged a new job as a Senior Sales Executive. In your earlier jobs, you sold products and services to customers. In the new job, your profile is that of a business to business selling. You are now expected to sell to senior executives of other businesses. How do you feel about your job in the initial weeks? How do you cover up for the lack of experience?
- Career
Recently, you completed your 10th year in your business. You are extremely happy about it. However, you find your business and work profile getting monotonous gradually. The rewards from business are good, but you are now hungry for more. You see an opportunity to start a new project, but you are unsure about how it shall pan out. How do you introspect? What measures do you look at?
Select at least one of the four examples to exercise the framework. I hope you have a piece of paper.
Framework – Three Cs
The framework consists of three questions, based on three keywords starting with ‘C’. To practise, rate yourself for the example/s selected on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest.
C1. On a scale of 10, how do you rate your ‘Courage’?
Let me start by rating myself on the first example – an invite from a top B-School. I would rate my courage between 7 to 10 for a guest lecture. But as I mentioned, this invite comes from a top B-School. That’s a different challenge, a new situation I am getting into. Hence my rating would lean more towards 7, the first time I deliver at a top B-School. And still, 7 is a good rating.
But what about the incident at the mall in London? Yes, I did ask for help but I wasn’t very comfortable doing so. I was low on courage given the completely new circumstances.
Overcome Lack of Courage
You might have thought of Google while reading about the situation in London. Yes, technology helps in such situations. Be it that city’s maps, language, currency, laws, police, culture, parks, entertainment etc. I sought information. I had to learn about the city. So what exactly was the root of that lack of courage? It was simply the lack of ‘Knowledge’.
Additional information
You’d wonder, so why did I emphasize courage all this while? Well… You don’t get an answer by giving yourself an answer. Do you? (Pun intended)
Asking the right question is a much more powerful way to decode yourself. Doesn’t make sense? Try telling these to yourself:
(i) You don’t have enough knowledge of your work.
(ii) On a scale of 10, how courageous are you to complete the task?
Did (i) sound discouraging or insulting or demotivating? Even you telling yourself such words could steal all the energy out of yourself. Of course, we don’t like to hear that from others too.
Whereas (ii), the question, helps you realise what you lack. You then find ways to gather what you lack.
Cue
They say, over a period of time, ‘Smart work replaces hard work’. That could hold true with acquiring knowledge. Technology makes acquiring knowledge easier, quicker and more effective.
C2. On a scale of 10, how do you rate your ‘Confidence’?
Here’s a situation – I walk out on a Cricket pitch to bat. Will I bat well?
The answer totally depends on who the bowler is – a friend I know or Jasprit Bumrah! (Yeah, go ahead, have a laugh!)
Overcome Lack of Confidence
So why exactly do I lack the confidence to face Jasprit Bumrah? I lack the ‘Skills’ needed to face him.
Additional information
Yes, I’d lack courage too. But that lack of courage can be attributed to lack of confidence.
Think about the third example (sales) in this context now. A lot of times, we lack the right skills to pitch, offer, propose in the right manner to close the deal. When we learn the art to close deals, we gather courage too.
So, acquiring the right skill set helps you gather both confidence & courage. Many times, these two go hand in hand. However, there would be instances where you lack just courage but not confidence or vice-a-versa. Do not write off those possibilities.
Cue
To gather confidence, you are in for a long haul. You better your skills with continued learning & practice.
C3. On a scale of 10, how do you rate your ‘Curiosity’?
In my early career days, I cleared an interview with the best KPO in my city then. My role would have been to maintain accounts for a UK based organisation. I didn’t take the job (no disrespect meant). I rated myself high on both – courage and confidence for the job. But I lacked the curiosity to pursue the job in the long run. The monetary rewards offered played a part too.
Overcome Lack of Curiosity
What are the chances of keeping a mother out of her Kitchen? What if she is not keeping well?
You don’t stop doing what you love. Yes, that might not sound practical in the profession. But a milder version of love works. The root of lack of curiosity is a lack of ‘Interest’.
Additional information
So from where does the thought of pursuing a new project (fourth example) come from? Working on the same profile for a long time could make it monotonous. Once you lose your curiosity for the job, rewards matter lesser.
Basically, the curiosity to continue the old fades, and pursuing the new is high. Should one take the plunge? Try asking the first two questions to yourself to know your answer.
Cue
They say, ‘Do what you love’. Curiosity comes to you naturally if you’re working within your area of interest. Eventually, your path will converge with your interests.
Comprehensive Test & Using Three Cs Framework
Let us now revisit the first example to build a comprehensive picture of the Three Cs framework. A top B-School invites me to address their students on Wealth Management. How would I rate myself on three Cs?
Courage: 7/10 | I know my subject well. But I don’t know how I can add value to the students I address.
Confidence: 8/10 | I am presentable and can deliver a talk efficiently.
Curiosity: 9/10 | Who wouldn’t want such a feather in the cap?
Is there a way I can push the courage level from 7 to 8 or 9?
Yes, I could try to get some more info from the session coordinator. Maybe he/she could help me understand how I could add value. If I increase the courage level, the other two levels rise a fraction as well.
I often feel lazy by the idea of doing a SWOT analysis on myself. In my personal opinion, SWOT is a strategic technique that makes more sense for organizations rather than individuals.
In a world with ever-growing solopreneurs, the three Cs framework makes more sense. It is more aligned with your personal and spiritual values. Give it a try. Practice it and test the results for yourself.
Do share your thoughts. Of course, I’d love to hear about your Breakthrough results too.
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