Do you know your strengths?
What is a strength? Something you’re good at. A way your personal power comes through. They can be activities, but more primarily they are qualities.
Strength has to do with capacity.
Some have greater capacity in certain areas than others. Some are more patient, some are smarter, some have stronger people skills, some are more generous, some are better strategists, some are visionaries, some have great technical skills, some have more empathy.
In what areas do you have considerable capacity?
If I were to ask you your top 3 strengths, what would you say?
And don’t just mention activities, but look at the strengths underneath those activities.
For example, if you say your strength is being a good manager of people, what are the strengths that go into making you a good manager? Good communicator (which you could even break down into more specific strengths!), able to hold people accountable without de-motivating them, able to manage your time well, etc.
Question: are you USING these top three strengths on a daily basis? In any way? Are you in a job or career where your greatest strengths are being exercised?
Question: how do feel when you are in a situation where you are using one or more of your strengths? It’s energizing, isn’t it?
Question: are others aware of your strengths? If I were to ask the people who know you best, would they give the same top 3 strengths that you did? Do any of these strengths shine brightly enough so that those who know you more distantly would also be able to name your top strengths?
One way to live is to focus on your strengths. I’m not saying ignore your areas of growth. Definitely not. We’ll talk about that another time.
But I am saying to tap into these strengths and to live out of your strengths.
Why? Because . . .
- you are contributing more to whatever effort you are involved in
- and you are possibly experiencing greater meaning and enjoyment in that effort.
So take some time and consider your strengths, if nothing else, just as a reminder. This keeps us grounded and rooted in the best of who we are.
Now go be strong.
--Sean Cox, Chicago