The root of the word intelligence is the verb “to grasp” in Latin. A limited intelligence means a failure to grasp. I am convinced that you can grow your intelligence, in fact that life constantly teaches you to do just that—if you let it.

My training initially placed a great emphasis on formal education and ideas. Such training habituated me to think logically, inquisitively, and conceptually. I can take any problem and break it down into its components, after which I generally solve it.

Life had other invaluable lessons in store for me. It taught me to be streetwise, which is defined in the Merriam-Webster as “possessing the skills and attitudes necessary to survive in a difficult or dangerous situation or environment.” How well we navigate reality corresponds to the degree in which we are able to gauge who people are and what they are likely to do, realistically, without judgement or expectations.

I’m convinced each person has a unique perspective and so I always listen to what someone says, no matter who it is. Over the course of my life, I’ve discovered it’s one thing to have intelligence and apply it, and it’s another, much more powerful thing to keep developing your intelligence.

Conscientiousness means paying attention to detail, checking things twice, and following up on what you do. It means taking responsibility for your actions, knowing what is important, and never leaving anything of importance to chance.

Conscientiousness means being present in all that you do.

The recent disaster in Fukushima has wrenched the gut of all those who love Japan and its people.

One of the things I love most about the Japanese is their relentless dedication to doing the right thing—what they perceive as the right thing to do.

It means returning an envelope filled with cash found on the street; taking no more than an individual portion of what is handed out by disaster relief workers if more is available; keeping a public place as clean, when you use it, as if you were in your own home.

These are some of the reasons I will never forget the time I lived in Japan over two decades ago, and why I continue to miss the kindness of its people.

#3 Respect others’ time. Plan, plan, plan. Give your direct reports a game plan that they will implement. Give them an objective, the means to achieve it, and a timeline. Never assume that you can drop an assignment on someone, even a junior employee. You are running a company, not a fire department or an emergency room. In a functional office environment, interference happens, but it is not the norm.

#2 Be accessible. To give your direct reports the means to achieve objectives, you must provide them with plenty of opportunities to come to you for information, clarification, and counsel. After all, if your employees implement the objectives you’ve set, what is your job if it isn’t to guide them?

#1 Devote yourself to your best managers. Go against the notion that the creaky wheel gets the oil. That is a recipe for mediocrity. If you are the commander of a fleet, your best managers are the captains of the fleet’s vessels. Without them, the fleet won’t move in the right direction. Spend time with your captains; go over their challenges and solutions; help them to fulfill their potential. Be a great manager.

Balancing act

Peek-a-boo

Deep sleep

Voice From the Planet is available at Amazon.com.

]]> http://valentinadeportu.com/2010/10/our-anthology-book-of-the-month-in-the-u-k/feed/ 0 http://valentinadeportu.com/2010/10/voice-from-the-planet-2/ http://valentinadeportu.com/2010/10/voice-from-the-planet-2/#comments Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:00:33 +0000 Valentina de Portu http://valentinadeportu.com/?p=1560 Voice From the Planet, an international short-story anthology edited by Harvard alumni, premieres today on Amazon.com.

My short story Remordimiento is one of thirty pieces having emanated from writers in the U.S., Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, and Africa.