In this month’s guest blog, Dede O’Donnell shares how her story-based cast of characters helps her approach a favorite task: completing a jigsaw puzzle. All of us have our own cast like this—an actual “power team” we can use to leverage our core strengths and values as we approach any task or goal. As you read the piece below, consider how these aspects of who Dede is are powerful allies for her in leadership and in life. Then check out the chart and questions at the end of the post to begin casting your own power team.

I love jigsaw puzzles. From opening the box to putting in the last piece, there’s challenge, frustration, and satisfaction. Everyone has a different approach – border first, collecting similar colors or designs, laying out all the pieces, or riffling through the box, with one objective. Solve it. And there’s a shared mantra, “Just one more piece.”

The first round puzzle I attempted was the English Legends and it was a significant challenge. Looking back on it, I realize it was a perfect way to capture my characters.

I knew I’d finish the puzzle. There was never any doubt. Determination (Hero) ensured it. I had my task – my mission, was ready for it and time wouldn’t be a factor. But where to begin?

Being a little resourceful (Jester), I decided the best way to solve the puzzle would be to look at the stories within it. Pulling together pieces that related to St. George and the Dragon, King Arthur and his knights and the others gave me a new way of looking at the solution. Although many pieces looked alike, concentrating on the story unraveled the complexity.

Finding the border pieces helped me put structure to it. Now I had boundaries (Ruler) to guide me in building the puzzle. I had a sense of where each story segment fit without having to refer to the cover all of the time. Two pieces that fit together perfectly formed the core of the puzzle. They provided another way to manage the hundreds of pieces in front of me.

My natural curiosity blended with a bit of knowledge (Sage) really came in handy. Does this piece go here? Will this piece fit? Is that color right for this part of the story? Asking the right questions made the task a lot easier.

It took me about a week to complete. My first-round puzzle is done. The stories were pulled together. The story within the puzzle and my core characters gave me a new perspective from the beginning to the last piece. A great sense of accomplishment.

Life is full of puzzles that challenge us. How do your story and core characters help you solve them?

Review the story typing chart below and circle the one type in each quadrant that’s most like you. Then consider the questions that follow the chart.

Based on your own cast of characters (the four types you circled on the chart), how would your own approach to solving a puzzle be different from or similar to the way Dede did it?

Are you using the strengths and values of your cast of characters/power team as much as you could in your professional life? How could you do more of that? What would happen if you did?

Which one character in your cast would you like to bring more to life at work—and what would that look like?

Dede O’Donnell is a leadership and transitions coach who encourages her clients to be bold, lean into their roles, and adapt to change with confidence and clarity. Reach her at rodeoenterprise@gmail.com.