We are taught from a young age to focus on our weaknesses. At school, maths was my weakest subject. So my parents paid for tutoring in maths to help me improve (for the record, I didn’t improve). Yet how often do kids get tutoring in only their best subject to take it to the next level? All too rarely. From a young age, we are told we have to get everything up to average – anything above average is a bonus.
This messed up thinking is reiterated when you graduate to the workplace. At your last annual review, what was the focus? I bet you spent more time and energy on how to improve your weaknesses than on how to make your strengths shine.
To create an exceptional career jump, you will have to turn that thinking on its head. Your strengths are all that count in the new world of dream careers. Weaknesses can always be compensated. Focus on the things you do exceptionally, and you will suddenly find your career change advancing in leaps and bounds. Here’s how to do that.
Strengths Secret: You Think Your Strengths are Universal
Strengths are those things that a) we find easy and enjoyable b) we hardly notice we have and c) we assume are universal.
I have always enjoyed speaking in front of large groups. In fact, given a choice between lazing on a beach in Barbados, and standing up in front of a big crowd, just hand me the microphone and point me to the podium.
I used to honestly think this was normal: “EVERYONE likes public speaking, right?”
Rewind – EVERYONE likes speaking in public? At last check it’s up there with people’s top 3 biggest fears! Yet this is what I believed, no matter what I read, and no matter how many pre-speech breakdowns I saw with my own eyes.
I refused to see my love of public speaking as a strength.
Clearly, this is Strengths Denial of the highest order. But I’ll bet you are doing it too. What are you great at that are you telling yourself is normal?
It’s time to identify those outstanding things which you think are just normal.
List out what you love doing. Try answering the following.
- What are the three things you would do as much as possible if money was not an object?
- What do your friends and family say you do well – and what do they come to you for help with?
- Think of five times in your life when you got a ‘buzz’, or a feeling of deep contentment – what were you doing?
Now look at your list. What are the themes?
This is the start of finding your strengths. When you know where you naturally shine, you have a powerful tool to apply to both the career change process, and to offer in your new career path.
Marianne helps mid-career professionals (who feel 'stuck' in jobs that are wrong for them) to discover the career that will get them jumping out of bed on Monday mornings. And which will still get them excited in 10 years' time.
Marianne also writes popular career blog Free Range Humans (www.free-range-humans.com).
You can follow Marianne's adventures on Twitter @FreeRangeHumans
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