MACRAO 2009
Dr. Anne Monroe
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmqDZ_R
Gkxk
Aptitude
Description
Design
Not just function - to create
something that is beautiful,
whimsical or emotionally engaging
Story
Not just argument –the ability to
create a compelling narrative
Symphony
Not just focus – the greatest need
today isn’t analysis, but synthesis
Empathy
Not just logic – the ability to
understand and forge relationships
Play
Not just seriousness – we all need
to play
Meaning
Not just accumulation – a world of
abundance has freed us to pursue
more significant desires
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Symphony is about relationships
Those who will thrive in the conceptual age
can make the connections between diverse
disciplines.
They will possess the ability to link
unconnected elements to create something
new – to be able to ‘see’ one thing in terms of
another. They can cross the boundaries…
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In his book, A WHOLE NEW MIND, Daniel Pink
describes boundary crossers as individuals who
“develop expertise in multiple spheres…and find
joy in the rich variety of human experience. They
live multi lives—because that’s more interesting,
and ….more effective….
Boundary crossers reject either/or choices and
seek multiple options and blended
solutions. They lead a hyphenated life filled with
hyphenated jobs and enlivened by hyphenated
identities.”
• Literate in multiple cultures
• Move between different groups, effortlessly
and with the finesse of a diplomat
• See relationships between disparate things
that most people never notice
• Is both analytical and intuitive
• Delight in working in a multi-disciplinary
environment
• Defy traditional gender role stereotyping.
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Individuals who have had a successful career in one area
and a passionate hobby in another world (e.g., software
developer during the week and musician on the weekends)
Individuals who are starting a career in one area (less than
5 years into it) and find that while they can continue on the
current path, they need a "tweak" to make it fit. An
example is a civil engineer who wants to focus more on
work oriented to sustainable building.
Individuals who have had multiple jobs in different areas
and feel like it's been a patchwork of things that haven't
led to a clear career path. An example is someone who has
changed jobs every couple of years, with not a lot of
connection to the past job or upward mobility in the new
job with each change.
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Create a "slash" life that includes more than
one area. Look to one area for steady income
(e.g., software developer) and add on a
freelance or volunteer role in a second area
(e.g., professional musician.)
◦ The different outlets can help you create a
customized career. The book, One Person/Multiple
Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success has
some great examples of people who have done this.
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Look for roles where translating between two
worlds is critical to being successful.
◦ Example: Technical writers are the bridge between
software developers and end users. They must be
able to write in layman's terms, sitting in the shoes
of the end user, yet understand enough of the
technical intricacies to communicate clearly with the
developers.
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Explore the intersection of your specific
interests. This is where innovation occurs,
where what you decide to do for your work is
something that is not well-defined or even
known, but fills a gap.
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It means creating your own role in the
marketplace. This often requires a level of
expertise in one area that gives you enough
credibility to “push the envelope.”
◦ Examples: A banker and poet who heads a poetry
journal that received a gift of $100 million dollars,
an engineer and organization development
consultant who creates a role of retention leader
inside an R+D organization.
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Sometimes, individuals know that they have
interests in disparate areas but aren't sure
what to do about it. Is it an asset or a
liability?
How do you start?
Interests and
hobbies
Education or
Training
Connections and
relationships
Skills or Abilities
Running and
health
Health – Red Cross Junior
and ACE
Achievement
Think Big planning
Real estate and
construction
Educational
Administration
Sigma Sigma
Sigma - National
Multi Task
Teaching and
service
Real Estate Sales
Zonta/AAUW
Dealing with the
uncomfortable
Food
Enrollment
Management
Rotary
Execution – ‘get it
done’
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Put yourself in the center and around you,
write down your assets
Interests and
hobbies
Education or
Training
Connections
Skills or Abilities
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With just a glance, what do you learn about
her?
What kinds of things does this map NOT tell
us about this person?
What kinds of things would need to be
included so that we could know this person
really well just by reading her map?
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Boundary crossers are uniquely positioned to
change the game, to help whole industries
and disciplines break out of the status quo.
The remarkable will win out over the
mediocre in a down economy.
For Boundary Crossers, the bad news is there
is no standard path to follow.
The good news is, you guessed it, there is no
standard path to follow.
• You travel among many worlds and belong to
none.
• While others may see you as graceful in dealing
with a variety of people and situations,
internally, it doesn’t feel that way to you.
• Being open to a wide variety of experiences and
having a number of angles with which to
approach an issue, you can get distracted.
• You feel awkward when the markers of success
for other people don’t do anything for you.
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Self Awareness:
◦ Being connected to yourself, has to do with being
comfortable in your own skin and not being selfconscious. You know who you are and you can draw
strength from that.
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Communication:
◦ Learn to use language to describe your assets to
others.
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Development:
◦ Take action on your assets – use them in many
areas of your life - even if it means NOT getting
‘paid’ for it – keep developing!
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Read the following excerpt from A Whole New
Mind by Daniel Pink and answer the question
below.
I heard this exercise from Jim Collins, author of the
blockbuster book Good to Great. He encourages
people to look at their lives—in particular, their
work—and ask themselves whether they would
still do what they're doing now if they had $20
million in the bank or knew they had no more
than 10 years to live. For instance, if you
inherited $20 million, no strings attached, would
you spend your days the way you spend them
now? If you knew you had at the most 10 years to
live, would you stick with your current job?
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If the answer is no, that ought you tell you
something.
This test alone obviously can't determine your
life course. But the approach is smart—and
the answers will be clarifying.
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Pink, D. (2005). Whole new mind: Why RightBrainers Will Lead the Future. New York,
Riverhead.
Pink, D. (2005). A whole new mind: Moving
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Carol Ross www.boundarycrosser.com
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from the Information Age to the Conceptual
Age. New York: Riverhead Hardcover.