High Skill Level's Impact on Daily Tasks Performance
In today's dynamic work environment, managing high abilities can be a challenge for both individuals and organizations. High-gifted individuals, those with an IQ of 130 and above, are characterized by their outstanding performance in various areas, including intellectual, craftsmanship, and technical fields [1].
While these individuals often take on more work and perform more than others in the workplace, they may face challenges such as potential underutilization of their skills, leading to frustration or stagnation [2]. To address these issues, high-gifted individuals employ several strategies to manage their abilities effectively.
One approach is to seek roles and responsibilities that align well with their strengths, setting clear goals, and embracing flexibility and adaptability [3]. High-gifted individuals strive to innovate and find solutions to complex problems while maintaining open communication with colleagues and supervisors. This management includes pursuing internal leadership opportunities, continuous learning, and engaging in mentorship or development programs that match their advanced capabilities.
Creating an ideal environment where skills are maximized through fluid role assignments that overlap according to strengths is another key strategy [1]. Setting clear and achievable goals to prevent stagnation and provide motivation aligned with their high abilities is also crucial [1]. Clear communication to avoid misunderstandings and facilitate efficient task performance is equally important [1].
Being adaptable to workplace changes, which helps maintain performance and leadership qualities during transitions, is another essential strategy [2]. Engaging in continuous development through training, mentorship, and leadership opportunities to sustain motivation and growth is also vital [3][5]. Addressing underutilization proactively by offering new challenges and pathways within the organization to keep their abilities fully engaged and recognized is another important aspect [4].
High-gifted individuals may struggle to delegate tasks with high quality standards to others in their team, leading to potential overwork, stress, and dissatisfaction [6]. To cope with overload, underload, or isolation in the workplace, a strategy is to continue with their regular job and pursue their exceptional talent after work hours, such as by tinkering with an innovation [6].
Regular exercise, relaxation techniques like yoga, and exchanging ideas with other high achievers can help reduce stress for high-gifted individuals in the workplace [7]. However, openly discussing being a high achiever in job interviews could lead to a feeling of inferiority among management and potentially reduce the chances of being hired [8]. Revealing a high IQ in the team can evoke envy and mockery and is not recommended [8].
Contrary to popular stereotypes, highly gifted individuals are often able to quickly analyze complex issues but are not usually overachievers [9]. One challenge that highly gifted individuals may face in their jobs is boredom due to unchallenging tasks that don't match their abilities [10]. Mentioning proven good performance in job interviews is, however, useful and should not be hidden [10].
Approximately 2% of the population is highly gifted, which translates to around 1.7 million highly gifted individuals in Germany's population of 84 million [1]. Organizations that can create an environment that supports the growth, engagement, and job satisfaction of high-gifted employees are more likely to reap the benefits of their exceptional abilities.
- To achieve personal growth and career development, high-gifted individuals pursue internal leadership opportunities, continuous learning, and engaging in mentorship or development programs that match their advanced capabilities.
- Creating an ideal environment where skills are maximized through fluid role assignments that overlap according to strengths, setting clear and achievable goals, and addressing underutilization proactively are key strategies for high-gifted individuals to manage their education-and-self-development effectively in the workplace.
