I’m a Shark Apparently
Many years ago the company I was working for decided anyone that was in some sort of leadership position should do a “First Line Management” course.
It seemed like a good idea. Everyone would be taught some important skills when it came to managing people. It was held offsite which was good and we got this basic qualification to add to our CV.
Like a lot of office bases roles there was a component of working out our personality type. I've done many of these things over the years. They usually involve a letter, a colour or an element.
This time it involved sea animals. I'm not sure if this was an actual product or something the facilitator made up.
After going through the process the guy went through and handed out what we were. He stops at mine and tells me that there is only ever one shark in the group, and he would never had picked it was me.
I can’t remember what being a shark meant. If it was accurate or even important.
I do think about it sometimes.
How people see different versions of yourself. There’s an at home version, a work version, a version only your family know because you grew up with them, plus many others.
You are the only person who knows the true version of yourself, shark or other sea creature.
As I’ve gotten older I think I’ve tried to be more consistent with the version everyone interacts with. I know when I was younger that wasn’t always the case.
So what does all of this mean? Who knows?