Gap Detectors have a finely honed nose for what’s missing and wrong in a situation.
They easily ferret out mistakes, sloppy thinking, logical disconnects, short-sightedness in planning, and a host of other problems a team may have but not see. While their talent sometimes goes unappreciated, the best Gap Detectors can be invaluable to a team—finding holes before the team falls in them.
If this is your superpower:
Because you can always see what’s missing, some people may experience you as negative. Whenever you’re poking holes, be sure you’re also engaged in trying to repair them.
You may see all gaps as equally deserving of the team’s attention. But some are more dangerous than others. Check yourself before you point something out. Make sure it’s worthy of the team’s time and energy to fix it.
If you’re working with them:
Gap Detectors are often in the position of telling the team to take another pass when everyone wants to wrap things up. While you may be tempted to ignore their warnings, it’s best to address gaps early—they rarely go away.
This can be a thankless superpower, so try to express gratitude for it. It helps to view gap detecting as a way of protecting you from stumbles down the road rather than taking it as criticism in the moment.