Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Better yet, do you know what to use them for? Looking at the world with new focus, intent, and control is something we could all gain from. When you get a better understanding of what you’re really good at, you’ll begin to start making things work better for you… especially from a professional, personal, and career development frame of mind.
No no no… not muscles – internal strengths!
I took a survey of several hundred people over the topic of professional and personal aptitudes related to several different topics. The results are at the same time sobering, challenging, and enlightening. Below is one of the questions I asked them and is followed by the unfiltered results.
Question:
Assume you know your top work-related strengths: what would you use them for? Why?
Answers:
- A strength is only as good as it is marketable. I could be the best ditch digger in town but if there are no ditches to dig then I’m just as good a taxi driver with no one to taxi. You have to use your strengths to fall onto while you’re developing your weaknesses. Somewhere, there’s a perfect middle for all talents and skills in a particular area, and finding that is key. While there are times where strengths are going to give you the edge, you still might not be as strong as someone else in that same area. So even while you are working on your weaknesses, refining your strengths and finding that medium to it all is the most important.
- My top work related strengths are sales, communication and building relationships. In a consulting type environment I am able to quickly build a relationship of trust with the customer. When they are comfortable in an environment they are willing to open up and share their ideas or areas of concern. When you can effectively communicate and listen and overcome any objectives then the sales will follow.
- I would use my top-related strengths for my own edification and creation. I would use them for a book or personal endeavor not a business that hired me because I feel I want to keep my best for me.
- My top work-related strength is my sense of unconventional thinking. I do things that people normally don’t, or I look at things in ways that most people won’t look. It is through my way of thinking that people close to me look to me for finding better ways to approach problems.
- I would use them to work my way up in my professional career. Being able to utilize them to lead to promotions and/or salary raises would be very beneficial for me. I would have more money to dedicate to my family and living a comfortable life. I would gain social status and admiration from others. Utilizing my work-related strengths towards my professional career would help to gain favor with my bosses and peers who can see the best of my abilities.
- If I knew my top work-related strengths I would most likely use them to help others, and help the company I am working for. I would also use them to try and show my supervisors what I am capable of and how I might be able to take on a more responsible position.
- I believe that I am very persuasive when it comes to my strengths. If I am working in the marketing field or some type of business where I have to make a presentation, I could possibly persuade everyone in the room to purchase my product or agree with my stance on something. Another strength is that I follow directions to the point so that a job gets done efficiently and accurately in a timely manner. I hope my answer helped you with your study.
- I would first use my strengths to convince someone of my ability. I would then move on the use them to get ahead in my field of expertise. Eventually, I would use them to enterprise and create my own business environment. Perhaps this would include starting my own business.
- If I knew my top strengths, I would try to get in somewhere where I can use them the most. I could possibly get ahead and become a leader and teach others about what I’ve learned and make someone else better at their job. I would also use them to better the company. There is no point in being really good at something and putting it aside. Use it!
- I would use my top work related strengths to become the top seller in my company because that would mean I would make tons more money and I could follow the rest of my dreams in life. I like hanging out and spending time with friends and family so I want to work now so I can do that for the rest of my life
- I would use my strengths to propel myself in the workforce. My main goal would be to continue to progress through the rankings and eventually get to vice president, or on the board of the company. I’m a very competitive individual, always wanting to be at the top and the best. To me getting to the top position of the company is about as high as you can go in work.
- My greatest strength is I am loyal and a hard worker. I would use that to be looked at for a raise or better job. To me loyalty and being faithful is one of the most important things- I believe other things can be overlooked if you are loyal. For instance- if I make a mistake and screw up and someone else does that isn’t faithful or loyal- they will be the first ones to be laid off or let go.
- I am a teacher in a private Catholic school. My duties include teaching preschool and middle school religion courses. My work-related strengths are that I am considerate to colleagues, parents, and students alike. I recognize that parents are making a sacrifice to send their children to us to receive their education, so I make myself accessible as often as possible. I communicate clearly and often with them to allow them to feel they are part of their child’s education. I am aware that our students take on an advanced curriculum and am very sensitive to the fact that some students are not as “book smart” as their peers. Accommodations are made for those students who are falling below level, as well as for those students who are ready to advance. I a team player and work to support my colleagues when they need ideas, materials, or general support.
- My top work-related strengths are determination and creativity. As far as determination goes, I never give up on something just because it’s difficult or even hopeless seeming at times. Just because a work project is tiresome or stressful doesn’t mean that I will bail. As far as creativity goes, I am good at coming up with great ideas and trying them. I trust myself to think of new solutions to problems, even if they seem crazy.
- I’m quite talented with networking computers — configuring routers and switches. I would like to take this further and work for large corporations such as Google or Facebook because I believe such a work place would be fun and meaningful (I could see the fruits of my labor just by going online).
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Can you identify with or find a nugget of awesome from these heart-felt responses? Have a story or piece of advice of your own? Please share with us in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Want to discover more about your own strengths and weaknesses, and turn them into ways to get more our of your life? Find your strengths through this comprehensive test, find out what makes you tick, and take actionable steps to start living live with more purpose. Click here to find your strengths today.
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