The more I connect with people through my Registry Gold product (where I help them find the perfect VAs for their needs), the more I realize how much the clients we see at AssistU want one thing over just about anything else.
They want VAs with low associative borders. Sounds like a mental health term, doesn’t it? What it refers to is someone who easily connects the dots between seemingly unconnected things. The “border” between her associations is low.
In other words, a VA who hears a need—and not just what’s said, but also what’s not said, who instinctively understands the top five things that might have to go along with what’s said and unsaid, and who can then effortlessly work through a process of collecting all the information necessary to make the need a reality, without dumping the project back into the lap of the client.
This is in contrast to someone with high associative borders—one whose border between things that need to be associated is high, and she can’t “see” them, so doesn’t know they’re there.
I’ve mulled over and over in my head as to whether this is a quality or skill, whether one is born with it or can develop it over time and with practice, and if it can be learned, how might I go about teaching it.
What I know for sure is that people with low associative borders are often amazed that the rest of the world doesn’t easily do what they can do. This makes me think it’s a quality one is born with, rather than a skill one learns and develops.
It’s also my observation that VAs with low associative borders do both implementation and strategy super well, but at some point, come to crave doing more strategy and less implementation. VAs with higher associative borders seem to prefer implementation with very clear direction.
If you believe you have low associative borders, I’d like to talk with you. If you’d be willing to be interviewed by phone, please be in touch (stacy at virtualmoxie dot com). Thanks in advance—I look forward to creating something from all of this pondering that will help us all be better and stronger at what we do!
They want VAs with low associative borders. Sounds like a mental health term, doesn’t it? What it refers to is someone who easily connects the dots between seemingly unconnected things. The “border” between her associations is low.
In other words, a VA who hears a need—and not just what’s said, but also what’s not said, who instinctively understands the top five things that might have to go along with what’s said and unsaid, and who can then effortlessly work through a process of collecting all the information necessary to make the need a reality, without dumping the project back into the lap of the client.
This is in contrast to someone with high associative borders—one whose border between things that need to be associated is high, and she can’t “see” them, so doesn’t know they’re there.
I’ve mulled over and over in my head as to whether this is a quality or skill, whether one is born with it or can develop it over time and with practice, and if it can be learned, how might I go about teaching it.
What I know for sure is that people with low associative borders are often amazed that the rest of the world doesn’t easily do what they can do. This makes me think it’s a quality one is born with, rather than a skill one learns and develops.
It’s also my observation that VAs with low associative borders do both implementation and strategy super well, but at some point, come to crave doing more strategy and less implementation. VAs with higher associative borders seem to prefer implementation with very clear direction.
If you believe you have low associative borders, I’d like to talk with you. If you’d be willing to be interviewed by phone, please be in touch (stacy at virtualmoxie dot com). Thanks in advance—I look forward to creating something from all of this pondering that will help us all be better and stronger at what we do!
Hi Stacy,
I very much believe I fit the description. I’ve always had the knack for hearing what wasn’t said and connecting things where there did not seem to be a connection. This ability has impressed many of my “superiors” and coworkers.
If you would like to talk to me, I would love to be interviewed.
Kay
F. Kay Franklin, Virtual Assistant, LLC
(P) 520-883-6274
Toll Free 877-316-8006
(F) 520-844-8845
franklin@dakotacom.net
www.asyoulikeitva.com
Posted by: Kay Franklin | October 20, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Hmm, "low associative borders" sounds a lot like the Meyers-Briggs category called "intuitive."
I'm not talking about a mysterious magical gift that somehow lets you pick lotto numbers, but the ability to effortlessly make mental "intuitive leaps" that bridge seemingly unrelated concepts. Sounds like dot-connection to me.
In Meyers-Briggs typing, "intuitive" is contrasted with "sensing," which refers to a type of person who needs a good clear map, or checklist, or step-by-step directions, to feel comfortable. They need to get their hands on every step of the process.
Us intuitive dot-connectors sometimes confuse sensing-types, because we don't always follow a linear chain of reasoning. But the seemingly illogical leaps we make can bring together disparate pieces of information to create something entirely new. And we have fun doing it.
I don't think the MBTI (Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator) is the answer to everything, but in this case, the intuitive/sensing continuum seems to match what you're describing. Just a thought.
Posted by: Wendy Cholbi | October 20, 2009 at 12:44 PM
I am for sure a low borders person :) I feel constantly like others are not living up to my expectations and have to remind myself often that it's not always as easy for other people as it is for me so I'm with you- I believe it's something you're born with.
Diane Potter
Posted by: Diane | October 26, 2009 at 03:46 PM