The Preference Of Availability Over Capability
A lot of people, when it comes to the pursuit of excellence, they tend to always go for capability - that is the ability to undertake a particular task in a highly skilled manner in a particular way. While this is very good and important, there is also a particular quality that a lot of people tend to overlook, which holds even a greater potential than capability: which is availability. Availability simply means being readily accessible, present, and always willing to engage and to learn to be better. That is, instead of focusing on only talents and skills, you focus on the willingness of the person to learn by being present and available. This is what availability entails.
If you are a football coach for example and there is a very talented footballer in your squad, but he will not be available for training, he will not even show for matches, will you still include him in the squad when you have a serious match to play? For the fact that his availability is not even guaranteed for the match will make the coach to replace him with even a player who is not as much skilled but always available for trainings and matches. With time, the available player will also become good, instead of wasting time hoping for a talented but unavailable player. As long as availability is in place, then the person can achieve expertise and will gain mastery.
Just to let you know, availability is valuable because it creates the willingness to show up when needed. If you ever need help, you will understand that a very present help is a valuable help because it will become available when it is needed. When you need something to be done for you quickly, you will understand the difference between availability and capability. Making it simple; capability may talk about what you can do, but availability is a measure of what you will do. In your team for example, what is the point of having capable handles but they are not available? You will just go for the available hands.
I have come to understand that a highly skilled, talented, and capable person who is never available is of very little or no value because they will not be there to help in the time of need. But an average person who is readily available will make a very great impact. This is why, you need to focus more of who is there for you, rather than who is perfect. When you give the available individual opportunity and times, they will also achieve the same perfection that you are seeking from someone else who is not available.
There was a time when I was in a particular musical group. The then choir mistress was the type of person who always expects perfection and as such, she would not give the upcoming ones any opportunity but will be heavily reliant on the skillful ones. Ironically, the ones who knew the art are not always available because, obviously, they have other engagements and functions to perform too. There was a time when the group was to perform but on that day, the key choral members were absent and it heavily affected the group. In order to cover up, she had to fall back on the available hands.
The same people who she had not been using because she thought they were just average, were who she fell back on. They were available and she had no choice than to engage them. Even though she did not get the absolute perfection that she expected, but she got something near and they actually put their heart and gave an amazing performance. It was then that she realized that availability should actually be favoured more then being capable. She started using those people who are available and before long, they became up to her expectations. If she had not given them any chance, they would not have grown. Availability makes for growth and development.
However, you need to maintain balance between availability and capability in order to experience a fulfilled life. That is, you should not sacrifice capability in place of availability and vice versa. When you are able to strike a balance between both of them, then you will be surprised what you can achieve. Remember that you can achieve both (availability and capability) if you are willing to.
Thanks for reading
