🤸 Navigating your circle of competence, 13 proven confidence hacks, & Northern Lights

Hey — it’s Cristina & Jenni.

This week, we're diving into the importance of identifying and navigating our “circle of competence” to build fulfilling, meaningful careers. Whether you consider yourself to be a specialist or a jack-of-all-trades, this will help you get some perspective on areas you can continue to strengthen.

We hope you enjoy it, and if you have any feedback or ideas on topics we should cover, hit reply and let us know!

What we’re reflecting on this week

Ever been in a situation where you felt like a fish out of water?

Yep, me too.

I remember the first time I ran a project with a CEO of a billion-dollar company, and wow. Imposter syndrome hit hard. 😅

But we’ve all faced those gut-check, ”Sh*t, am I really cut out for this?”, moments.

And while these moments might feel like a slap in the face, they can shine a light on our true capabilities. Prompting us to ask:

• What’s really in my toolbox?

• What are my unique strengths and limitations?

The good news is that the further we get into our careers, the clearer these answers become.

For the lucky few, this self-awareness comes early, while for others, it’s a slow burn. 👀

But clarity isn’t the endgame.

It’s about taking that clarity and running with it to make informed decisions and build fulfilling careers.

• Should we double down on deepening our skills, or try to constantly branch out and diversify them? 🤔 

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffet’s right-hand man, has a strong belief:

Munger’s argument is that it’s less about how much we know and more about how effectively we use our knowledge and skills that will ultimately drive our success. Choosing our battles wisely, focusing on what we know best, and avoiding pitfalls.

Warren Buffet and Ray Dalio have similar views.

They credit much of their success to knowing and navigating within their “circle of competence.”

See image below👇

Our circle of competence:

❌ Is NOT everything we know about or can do. Sure, I’ve been practising Muay Thai for 9 months but that doesn’t make me an expert.

✅ It’s those moments when you feel completely in your element.

✅ It’s also what you’re able to do successfully and efficiently or have deep knowledge in based on study or experience.

And as leaders, the more we play within our circle, the higher our chances of building a fulfilling, meaningful career.

Ready to discover or deepen your existing circle? Try this exercise:

1. Self-assessment:

• Write down 5 skills or knowledge areas you excel at.

• For each, try to think of an example where you applied that skill successfully.

2. Circle of competence validation:

• Share your list with three trusted colleagues or mentors.

• Ask them to rate your proficiency in these areas on a scale of 1-10. If any skill isn't an 8 or above, it might not be within your circle.

• Encourage them to provide any additional feedback or insights into how you can further deepen these competencies and to suggest any skills or knowledge areas they believe might be missing from your list.

3. Deep dive development:

• From the feedback, identify one skill from your list to focus on for the next six months. What resources, training, or experiences can you engage in to push that skill from great to mastery?

• Consider setting tangible milestones or KPIs that indicate progress in deepening this skill.

4. Reflect and reassess:

• Remember that while the essence of your circle of competence might remain consistent, the depth to which you master these skills can always grow.

• Set a biannual reminder to repeat this exercise, making sure that as you evolve, your mastery over these skills becomes even greater.

5. Action steps:

• Using your mapped circle, identify projects or tasks that would benefit most from your unique competence. This helps you drive maximum impact and value addition.

• Encourage an environment where team members are recognized and celebrated for their unique competencies. This kind of culture not only nurtures mutual respect but also ensures the right people are in the right roles.

→ How does your circle shape the leader in you? Any surprises as you mapped it out?

What we’re learning this week

• 🎙️ Podcast: Host Mel Robbin speaks to Vanessa Van Edwards about 13 research-backed hacks from Princeton University aimed at increasing our influence and boosting confidence - Vanessa, founder of the behavior lab, “The Science of People”, offers great insights from acing interviews, spotting liars, and understanding why the second impression can be just as crucial as the first.

• ✍️ Blog post: A great introduction from Matt on Reid Hoffman’s “tour of duty” concept - Reid, the founder of LinkedIn, describes this idea as a distinct two to four-year period for which an individual is specifically hired, and he identifies three unique tours. Matt argues that every successful company features a blend of individuals across these three tours and that for our professional growth, it's important to know which track we're currently on.

• 📚 Newsletter: 12 book recommendations from Adam Grant to enrich your thinking - We’re always looking for book recommendations, and this list - covering topics like leadership and identity & connection - didn’t disappoint!

What we’re enjoying this week

Jenni checked off a bucket list item this week by exploring Iceland with her family… and got super lucky with Northern Lights timing! If you’ve been needing a nudge to take some PTO, look no further 😊 

That’s it for this week — thanks for reading.

See you next Thursday! 🤸‍♀️