Print no. 593 tip

No. 593, August 25, 2008]

A tip to learn and grow

Build on your strengths

There has been a shift in our view of personal growth at work. The idea of improving your weaknesses has been replaced by the concept of building on your strengths. Your weakness is someone else’s strength – better they do the job.

But how does one find one’s strengths? Actually, simple self-reflection will give you a lot of answers:

Here are a few suggestions:

What do you enjoy doing? A classic question. The fact that we have found joy in something shows that we have motivation as well as experiencing the fruits of our labour as inspiring.
What do you want to do in your life? Another classic question. It is about our perhaps strongest strength, our motivation. Finding tasks in line with our personal life goals creates new levels of motivation.
What do others acknowledge you for? Perhaps we get this feedback too seldom, but sometimes it comes hidden through other people asking you for help with different things. You may also notice that things which are difficult for others are easy for you. Of course, we can also ask others about our strengths.
Which successes have you already created in life? List your ten biggest successes. Which strengths did you use to succeed?
Who are your models? People we admire in some may mirror what we would like to do or to be. Focus on a model you have some knowledge about and ask yourself what they have that you would like to have. How can you express this quality in your own life based on your strengths?
How do you want to be encouraged? List the social circumstances under which you perform your best. Undisturbed, among a few people you know well or around many people? Which form of encouragement inspires you the most?

Take a moment and reflect on these questions. Then you can invent a work situation using more of your strengths. Then find a way to implement your idea.

Creative regards! Jonas Himmelstrand