bcg blog

The Michelangelo Effect

How cool is this story?

David, the most famous sculpture in the world, was rescued from a block that was abandoned by two other sculptors, not good enough for either of them at the time. The attempts of the previous two left cuts in ways that limited what could be carved in the future. The block was eventually discarded, left outside and forgotten for the next twenty-five years, too flawed to use for any worthwhile projects. Remember, we’re talking about David! The larger than life sculpture that many consider one of the most incredible pieces of art ever.

Enter Michelangelo. At only twenty-six years old, he claims the block. To him it wasn’t the ruined slab the other sculptors had seen or the trash it had been left for the last quarter-century. Michelangelo saw a giant trapped inside, waiting to be let out. Rather than the shortcomings and  flaws, he saw the inherent strengths and beauty.

Over the next three years Michelangelo would chip the marble away to eventually reveal David. The seventeen-foot specimen is dramatically precise and so alive with tension that he looks like anything but a piece of discarded rock. David looks freed. The veins in his hands. The furrow in his brow. The sling on his shoulder. Flawless.

The descriptions border on perfection. 
Where others had seen trash in the stone, Michelangelo saw divinity.

Why Should We Care?
When I first started coaching and, if I’m being honest, more often now than I care to admit, I reverted to being a professional flaw-catcher rather than a true coach. I reduced coaching, and leading, to nothing more than identifying everything that’s wrong. It’s the complete opposite of what the best do. 
Michelangelo didn't look at that block and see its flaws. He looked past what it had been reduced to and saw what it could become. Isn’t that our job? Anyone can spot flaws. There’s little talent in that. Flaws are easy, they're right there on the surface. Everyone sees them. The skill lies in seeing the best version of someone before it shows itself. And then, coaching toward that instead of just managing the obvious shortfalls.
Most people are led to the societal norm, the accepted expectation. Or, worse yet, to their low point and the worst version of themselves. Instead, we should be leading others based on their best moments or even the one that hasn’t shown itself yet. By leading that way, people start becoming who we see them to be.
Think about the coach or leader who changed your life. Odds are they weren't the one who catalogued your mistakes best. They were the one who saw something in you before you saw it in yourself and treated you like that person was already in there. 
They were chipping away at the marble around you, freeing you to be that best version.
REAL TALK - Action Steps
For most, acting on the Michelangelo Effect is not natural. We’ve been trained to see the problems and identify shortcomings. It’s served us well but will also limit our ultimate impact if we don’t move beyond it. Here are a few ideas to do just that.

• Coach the Best Version 
  
  • Be open to what the best version of this person looks like, then lead toward that picture every day, rather than just trying to fix what's currently wrong. It’s lazy leadership to simply point out flaws. Anyone can do that. See the best, then lead them to it.
    

• See What You Look For
  
  • People sink or rise to the level they feel appreciated. See strength, and strength tends to show up. See weakness, and weakness tends to show up. It’s kind of like getting a new car then noticing all the other people with the same car. They were there all along, we just weren’t looking for them.
    

• Be Patient
  
  • The best in people is usually running behind schedule, not missing. If you don’t see it at first … keep looking. It took Michelangelo three years to free David, not two practices.
    

David isn't famous because Michelangelo fixed a flawed rock. It's famous because Michelangelo saw the best possible version of the stone and refused to settle for less. We should be doing the same for the people we are leading. 

Checkout Surrender the Outcome on Amazon and order The Score That Matters with Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps. The latest blog from Blue Collar Grit can be found here!