I had heard this book discussed on NPR and decided to check it out…it’s titled Smarts: Are We Hardwired for Success?
While much of it would be helpful for human resource people, I found the first part of it is especially helpful in understanding myself.
The authors talk about twelve specific cognitive functions that are innate–that we all have to varying degrees. We’re each strong in some areas and weak in others, and this book contains a self-assessment tool that will identify those strengths and weaknesses. They suggest ways to focus on the areas where we are strong as well as ways to work with/around the areas where we are weaker, since those weaker areas are ones that we cannot change by the times we reach adulthood.
The concept is supported by a lot of research and is grounded in clinical and neuro-psychology. Some of it is a bit challenging to read–but much of the time I found myself nodding and saying, “Yup, that’s me!”
It certainly has helped me understand myself better–and also change how I react to others (and helped them see why I react sometimes the way I do!
