I grew up hearing a lot of "turn your weaknesses into strengths." I see the value in that. That philosophy is why we practice pirouettes on both sides and work on our flexibility even when it's hard. It can be part of a growth mindset both for ballet teachers and students.
But. This idea can also lead to trying to do everything---and not just doing everything, but expecting that you'll be able to do everything well. That's really an impossible standard. Sometimes it's okay to let a task go to someone who can do it better.
What are some of my strengths? I organize things well. Like, really well. I am also really good at researching things and making connections between topics that not everyone sees. I'm not good at facilitating team-building activities. I'm not particularly good at chaperoning studio parties. Both of those tasks are better done by someone else.
I've gotten to a point in my career where I mostly get to focus on what I'm great at. I've developed and implemented technique and pointe curricula, I get to teach dance history in the summers, and I'm working on a book about artistry in ballet. These are all things that I am very good at and could do all day long without getting particularly tired.
I go to studio parties but I usually get there late, spend maybe an hour with the kids, and then leave. And someone else is in charge---someone who sees fun where I tend to see chaos. I don't usually go to team building activities for the students. I've found that my presence there doesn't really add to their experience.
And I'm a better teacher because I specialize. Because I'm not great at crafting with 20 kids and I don't have to do it, I don't have to spend 20 hours recovering from an event that someone else is great at. I get to organize things like lesson plans and teacher trainings and help share my strengths with other teachers.
The pressure to get better at things I'm not good at is still there. And it's still valuable---sometimes. But what I didn't hear growing up and wish that I had was that it's also okay (great, even) to spend time getting even better at your strengths and just acknowledge that I, like everyone else, am not perfect.
What are some of your strengths? And what can you do to create more space in your life for those to really shine?
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