Illusory Superiority –Too Many People in the Tent

You and I have this in common: we’re smarter, better looking, and funnier than average. At least we think so.

There’s this concept in psychology known as illusory superiority, and it comes down to this: nearly everyone thinks they’re above average on most things. In survey after survey, well over half the participants scored themselves in the top five or ten percent with respect to the particular attribute being surveyed.

In one typical survey of the faculty at an American university, 68% self-rated to be in the top 25% and 94% felt themselves to be above average in teaching skills. You don’t have to be a math prof to see that there is a problem with those stats. There’s just no room for 68% of the participants in 25% of the space.

So, why does this matter? Remember that the Alignment Principle teaches that the highest and best place for you to be is where your unique giftings exactly match the unique needs of your client. This is the place where you can be very well compensated for doing what you most enjoy.

The problem is that most of us are bad, really bad, at self-assessment. When it comes to identifying your own best attributes, there is a fly in the ointment – it’s well nigh impossible to be as honest with yourself as you need to be. While self-analysis is an absolutely critical component in finding one’s own giftings, in isolation it’s almost certain to lead to a false outcome. Your clients’ needs will be met with talents less than they expect or will pay for. Not good.

Fortunately there are solutions. When it comes to getting a firm grip on your own Giftedness for the purposes of the Alignment Principle, there are three points of departure: self-analysis, peer-analysis, and formal testing.

Over the next few weeks we’ll start peeling away the layers of “How to figure out your own Giftedness”. Stay tuned!