When he approached me to take the HAB, he was working as a middle school math teacher and a high school tennis coach. Sports are his passion. Teaching is secondary; however, as with everything he does, he takes it very seriously. He already had his M.A. in education, which opened the possibility for him to move into administration. He felt a bit unsettled. He hoped the HAB would help him better understand himself so he could plan for his future.
Kyle was at a “turning point.” Recently engaged, he was questioning his current career and considering his future. In “Don’t Waste Your Talent” by Bob McDonald, Ph.D. and Don E. Hutcheson, it is mentioned that turning points occur every seven to ten years when “the strands of our lives unravel slightly, and we must decide how to weave them back together.” Kyle’s vision included being a husband, a father, and a significant financial contributor. Recruitment for the tennis team had become more challenging. Sports, such as lacrosse, had become increasingly popular, and the pandemic had significantly disrupted everyone’s lives. His team had several tough seasons, and the players weren’t performing at their best, which was disheartening. Finally, he was told he had to teach several language arts classes as well. Let’s see what the HAB revealed.
Kyle is a detailed communicator—a specialist with strong extraversion. Leading, sharing, and teaching as an expert comes naturally to him. He is an inductive and pragmatic problem solver. He reaches conclusions quickly and is pragmatic in their implementation, i.e., “no need to reinvent the wheel.” He doesn’t get bogged down with details and methods. His spatial relations scores indicate that he is naturally able to consider both ideas and facts in problem-solving. He quickly assesses what needs to be accomplished and moves into action. Teaching math is a more natural fit for Kyle than teaching language arts. And, facts, statistics, and measurements are important in the development of athletes and teams. His long-term time frame allows him to nurture students and athletes and remain dedicated to his organization.
So, where is Kyle now? He is in a leadership role as an administrator, making more money. He is still teaching and coaching and is now married and a father. He thinks about becoming an athletic director. Because these jobs are often difficult to get, Kyle needs to continue to build and stay in contact with his network. This is easy for him; he is naturally extraverted and has played many different sports. One challenge in having a long-time frame is that it can lead to procrastination. The HAB gave Kyle a more in-depth understanding of his aptitudes and his personal style. He has taken actions to be more fulfilled. Such a pleasure to work with Kyle!
Leave a Reply