“I want everyone to be aware of what their superpower is because I believe that we all have superpowers.”
Nafessa Williams, American actress
Please Join Us!
What: #MTtalk
Where: Twitter
When: October 8, @1pm ET (5pm GMT / 10:30pm IST)
Topic: What’s Your Superpower?
Host: @Mind_Tools
Superpowers Aren’t Just for Superheros
My love affair with reading and books began when I was very young. Our family’s weekly visits to the city library became my highlight of the week soon after I learned to read.
I clearly remember my mom sending me to bed with a stern warning that I had to sleep, not read. Of course, all I wanted to do was to read so I often resorted to “undercover reading,” or what’s commonly known as the tried-and-true “flashlight-under-the-blanket” method.
But what was it about books that cast such a powerful spell on me?
In part, it was the words. I love words and language. But it was also the characters I met in those books – especially the ones who were able to perform magical and powerful acts like flying, shapeshifting or breathing under water.
When I read of those superpowers, I dreamed of having them too because I wanted to help people, rescue animals and heal all kinds of ills in the world.
Fortunately, we don’t need to be Spiderman or Black Panther to have a superpower and make a difference in the world.
Creativity and Superpowers
When we think of creativity most people link it to their artistic abilities. But, artistic ability really only represents one type of creativity. In fact, the concept of creativity is much broader than being able to write a book or draw a picture.
In 1958, Paul Torrance – “Mr Creativity of the 20th Century” – wrote that your technical skills and academic intelligence will not give you a particular advantage. He said that it is only your creativity, your creative insight and your energy that will you give you an edge.
A Formula for Creativity
There are two formulas for creativity that I think pertain to our use of the word “superpower” outside the context of movies and comic book heroes.
The first formula poses that creativity = talent + curiosity + effort.
Having a talent in a specific field, being curious to find out more about it and putting in the effort of learning and thinking about it will lead to finding ideas and solutions.
Ruth Noller, a mathematics professor, also developed a formula for creative behavior. In her formula, C=ƒa(K I E), creativity is a function of the interaction between knowledge (K), Imagination (I), and Evaluation (E) and is heavily influenced by the individual’s attitude (a).
In a way, your superpower is the ability to think creatively in your own special way.
Superpowers in the Everyday
One of my best friends, Steve, grew up in rural Kenya in a setting that couldn’t have been more different from my own upbringing.
I grew up in a city with all the comforts it offered and two parents earning an income. His parents had to make a living off the land in an environment where they were at the mercy of the seasons and the elements.
School might not have been high on his agenda, but his mother wouldn’t have any of that nonsense. During his first few years of school, they had a set routine in the afternoon. Before he did his daily chores around the house and farm, Steve first had to write down a few things that he had learned that day.
His mother would then take her red pen and mark what he had written. Without fail, she would mark half the sentences right, and the other half would get a red “x.” Her message was always that he’d have to work somewhat harder at school.
It was only after five or six years of that ritual, that he learned his mum was illiterate. She pretended to read his work every day, always pushing him to work harder and do better.
Reading might not have been Mama Mululu’s superpower, but she wanted her children to be educated, so she came up with a creative way to encourage them to do well. Her ability to make a plan, coupled with her determination became her superpower.
Putting her superpower to good use paid off. Steve has built a very successful business from nothing and is a pillar of strength in his community.
Superpowers at Work
How do you like the idea of being able to talk to someone who isn’t engaged with anything else but your conversation, at that moment?
In today’s technologically connected but impersonal society, mindful listening is a superpower. I’d say that it sounds like the kind of superpower that can help others to work through some tough emotional issues and workplace challenges. It can also make them feel heard and respected.
Another superpower that increases trust and connection, is the ability to be fully present in the moment, wherever you are. In a space (even a virtual one) where you’re fully present, your energy is visible and palpable, and you can instantly touch and inspire people.
Do you know someone with the ability to step back from a situation and to think things through before they comment, judge, make decisions, or give advice? In the highly reactive world we live in, that’s a person whose superpower is priceless and rare – stay close to them.
A friend of mine who has now passed on, always used to say, “You can run out of money, as long as you don’t run out of ideas.”
At the time, I was still young and I didn’t appreciate his statement for the sage advice it was. However, later in my career I understood the value of a person who can always come up with a plan or idea. It’s a creative superpower not to be messed with!
What’s Your Superpower?
Oh, and did I mention that my rottweiler, Helmuth, also has a superpower? You’d be forgiven if you think that it’s his size or strength, but it isn’t. It’s his ability to use all kinds of goofy tricks and antics to extract treats from humans – and make them laugh, in the process, too!
During the #MTtalk Twitter chat this week, we’ll be talking about your superpower, and how to find it, use it and share it.
In our Twitter poll this week, we wanted to know what you think of when you hear the word “superpower.” Half of the participants voted for “a specific strength,” while only five percent felt that it’s a genius mindset. To see all the options and results, please click here.
Join the Chat!
We’d love you to participate in the chat, and the following questions may spark some thoughts in preparation for it:
- How would you define a superpower (as it pertains to non-comic book heroes)?
- How could someone identify their superpower?
- Is a superpower just a strength, or is it more than that? Explain.
- What skills/talents/tasks can you do that others say you do better than anyone else?
- How do you feel when you use your superpower, and why?
- How does your superpower complement the efforts of others?
- What superpowers are you actively working to develop?
Resources
To help you prepare for the chat, we’ve compiled a list of resources for you to browse:
The Nine-Box Grid for Talent Management
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
How to Join
Follow us on Twitter to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action this Friday! We’ll be tweeting out 10 questions during our hour-long chat.
To participate in the chat, type #MTtalk in the Twitter search function. Then, click on “Latest” and you’ll be able to follow the live chat feed. You can join the chat by using the hashtag #MTtalk in your responses.
The post What’s Your Superpower? – Join Our #MTtalk appeared first on Mind Tools Blog.
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