How to Identify your Strengths
Have you ever taken time to ask yourself what your strengths are? We often overlook our strengths and instead focus on improving our weaknesses. While both are important, tapping into our strengths provides us with better self-understanding such that we can position ourselves to flourish. When you have a strength, lean into it, and figure out how you can sharpen it and put it to use in a business context.
For a number of reasons, our strengths can often exist beyond our awareness, either because we have yet to find a context to use them and thereby activate their powers, we’ve never reflected on it, or maybe no one has ever pointed them out to you and so you don’t even think it’s a strength.
Here are some tips for identifying your strengths:
Ask Your Mentors and Trusted Colleagues
Other people may see what you bring to the table more clearly than you do. Check in with those you trust and have worked with to get a pulse on your natural strengths. You may find that if you ask five people, there’s a trend. This is likely a sign as to what your strengths are.
Put Words to What’s Easy
When was the last time you thought to yourself: That was easy? Or — I can do that, no problem? We sometimes brush off what’s easy as if it’s universally simple, but the reality is, what’s easy for you, is not easy for others. This applies even if we’re talking about soft skills. For example, did you enthusiastically accept your friend’s invitation to MC their wedding? Then, that may mean that you’re a strong communicator who knows how to make people feel welcomed and excited. That’s a major skill! Not everyone can do it well. Or, are you the one that’s always helping your friends with their taxes without scoffing? This could mean that you are diligent, patient and detail oriented. These are all signs of your strengths, but you need to put words to it.
Ask Yourself: Who Do You Become in Community?
Related to the last two points, our strengths often become clearer in community. The role you step into when you’re in community with others can be a sign of your strengths. Even what you don’t do is a sign of what you’re good at. For example, do you tend to be the quietest one in a group? Maybe you’re listening and analyzing what people are saying so that you can share an insight later. While in the moment people may wonder why you’re not talking, it may be a sign that you have the skill of insight. Not all folks are good at this! Furthermore, this is a testament to why having a range of experiences is so important to getting to know yourself in life. What looks like the skill of insight in one context (say, a research lab, a writer’s desk or a classroom) can look like a weakness in another (an off the cuff conversation where you’re expected to share immediate thoughts). This isn’t to say you shouldn’t try to work on your weaknesses — but where we tend to find ourselves over and over again in life points to our superpower.
Often, if we sit on our strengths and lack new experiences, it can be hard to know what you excel at because you’re not giving latent skills an opportunity to be put to use.
Become More Self-Aware
A personality assessment may be helpful. CliftonStrengths offers a powerful survey. Dr. Marcia Robinson suggests discovering your own personal V.I.S.A. (values, interests, skills and abilities) as another method to help you uncover your strengths. Check out our list of personal assessments here.