Magnum Memo: Self-review reveals good and bad sides

Editor’s note: The Northern Colorado Business Report is excerpting Debra Benton’s latest book, “Secrets of a CEO Coach,” a guide for developing the skills, knowledge and style of a true leader.

If I asked you to tell me what you think about yourself, you’d probably say something like, “I’m a happy, healthy person, fairly ambitious, and anxious to make my mark on the world.” Or you might say, “I’m fairly frustrated with life. Things haven’t turned out like I thought. I worry about my health, my family’s future, and my career progress.” Either way, you haven’t told me a lot of substantive stuff.

Here is a fun way to look at why you are like you are (or at least why you think you are).

There are two sections. The first is to complete the sentence. The second is to explain in a sentence why you selected the answer you did.

If I were a fruit, what would I be?

If I were a job, what would I be?

If I were the weather, what would I be?

If I were a tool, what would I be?

If I were a temperature, what would I be?

If I were an animal, what would I be?

If I were a smell, what would I be?

If I were a crime, what would I be?

If I were a toy, what would I be?

If I were something to wear, what would I be?

If I were a country, what would I be?

If I were spare-time activity, what would I be?

If I were a sound, what would I be?

If I were a time of day, what would I be?

If I were a department in a supermarket, what would I be?

Here’s how one person answered the questions and the reason why:

If I were a fruit, what would I be?

A persimmon. It is rare. Few know of it. It is unlike any other fruit. It’s extremely good. And it can be used in a humble pudding recipe.

If I were a job, what would I be?

A beautician. The job makes other people look and feel good.

If I were weather, what would I be?

Clear and sunny. It represents calm and clear.

If I were a tool, what would I be?

A ratchet screwdriver. With little effort, a lot is accomplished. It wields a lot of power.

If I were a temperature, what would I be?

98.6. Because that’s normal.

If I were an animal, what would I be?

A lion. It has power even without roaring.

If I were a smell what would I be?

Clean. Because clean is pure and simple.

If I were a crime, what would I be?

Counterfeiting. I often fear being found out in my job.

If I were a toy, what would I be?

An Etch-a-Sketch. I can create what I want, erase it, and do it again.

If I were something to wear what would I be?

Best suit of clothes. Because it’s something I feel proud of myself in.

If I were a country, what would I be?

The U.S. It was founded for good reasons. It is the world leader. We make mistakes. We recover and thrive.

If I were a spare-time activity, what would I be?

Chess. It requires thought, consideration of others, a poker face, and luck.

If I were a sound, what would I be?

A familiar, pleasant voice. Because it’s something familiar that puts a smile on your face when you hear it and recognize it.

If I were a time of day what would I be?

2:00 p.m. It’s nondescript.

If I were a department in a supermarket, what would I be?

The health food section. Because I’m good for your health.

Here’s what that line of self-questioning and explanation says about this particular person: The individual likes the out-of-the-ordinary and takes personal pride in feeling unique. She cares about others like she cares about herself. She tries to keep calm in crisis and maintain an affable demeanor in general.

She likes power and wants to be efficient and productive. Although she likes to feel special, she knows she’s pretty typical of most human beings — normal. She doesn’t want to be loud, obnoxious or arrogant, and she values clarity, simplicity and straightforwardness. She has a certain amount of self-doubt — “not wanting to be found out.” She knows she makes mistakes but is also careful to correct them. She feels pride in her accomplishments, understands the “game” she’s playing (like we all are playing), and she wants to play it better — but in a fair way. In general, she wants to do good.

This is not an attempt at deep psychological analysis. It is, however, an interesting way to look at how you think about yourself.

Debra A. Benton is president of Benton Management Resources Inc. Visit her Web site at www. TopSpeaker.com. “Secrets of a CEO Coach” is available for $21.95 from McGraw-Hill. Visit www.books.mcgraw-hill.com.

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