Are you an “Out There” Person? - A recent survey conducted talks about ‘Out There’ people: Characteristics employers might recognize as potential fuel for success. One reader comments this has “been conventional wisdom since long before the internet”. I agree, this is not news. And as the source blog mentions, “I would guess that most people who read this blog would characterize themselves as ‘out there’.” I would say the same about my readers too- but consider carefully without self flattery. Look at what you are and who you are, and then consider what you could be if you tried to change. People often don’t, as a matter of fact.

In any case, the main findings of the report were that people who are ‘Out There’ are more likely to:

• Value fame as an “asset”
• Willing to share certain types of sensitive information on the web
• Believe it is appropriate to criticize their organizations on the web
• Believe that “organizations need to be more transparent to succeed”
• Believe “there’s no harm in openly discussing the work I do inside my organization with others”

The report concludes that ‘Out There’ people are potential saviors of companies, because they are the people who are going to help companies succeed. ‘Out There’ people are characterized as:

• Fast followers
• More flexible
• Open communicators
• Aspire to greatness
• Looking for new, innovative ideas
• In short – your future leaders

I’ve recently been a little frustrated by some of the things going on at my work- in both positive and negative ways, in equal shares. Meaning, there’s so much good and potential, but so many twisted roads with traffic. I’m tempted to get out of my car and start walking on hoods to get to the next destination. I was reading some blogs where people were discussing related frustrations, which is how I happened upon this article. I saw myself in there a bit, and wondered: how much more ‘Out There’ should I strive to be? Is it always a positive thing, or perhaps a bad idea when my perspective goes unnoticed?

Filed under: Speak Easy