What are your Strengths?
Catalog your own strengths… What? I thought that was just something I focused on for my team!
Have you ever cataloged them?
Do you even know what they are?
Are you actually doing work that utilizes your strengths?
Have you delegated the tasks that you’re not skilled at to someone on your team that is skilled?
As a leader you spend significant time determining the strengths of each person on your team and often neglect to be in tune with your own.
Time to take stalk! Get out a piece of paper and let’s make a list. Left column is strengths, Right column is Limitations (a strength is something that you inherently are, something that just oozes out your pores with no effort at all, it’s how you’re wired)
I’ll help you get started with some ideas!
Adaptive
Negotiator
Timely
Communicator
Analyzer
Cheerleader
Attention to detail
Visionary
Empathetic
Strategic
Learner
Problem solver
Inclusive
I’m sure you will think of many more that are and aren’t your strength so keep writing them down. Spend a few days and let this question percolate.
Once you’re done with the list, match tasks/responsibilities that you are currently doing that fall into your strengths column. List every task/responsibility that is part of your job description!!
Now, highlight the tasks that you currently do that are NOT utilizing one of your strengths and determine who on your team would be better at handling this task. Sometimes company policies prevent you from delegating but more often than not it is your own ego that hinders the delegation process. The, “no one can do this like I can”, reasoning!!
Here are a few books I’d recommend with assessment options that may give you a better understanding of your strengths and how to amplify them.
Self-awareness is key to creating a job you love, a team that enjoys their work and the environment they work in.
Be honest! No one excels at everything so accept what you suck at and acknowledge what you’re good at so you can do the work that speaks to your strengths.
So then, how are your strengths lining up with your current job description? Are YOU in the right spot?