self-discovery

Unleashing Your Professional Potential: Ten Questions to Discover Your Hidden Strengths

I’m always astonished when people claim, “I don’t know what I’m good at.” This is especially true if they’ve been working in a job where they’ve performed well and exceeded their role’s expectations. They were most likely hired due to their skills and abilities, but they don’t know where their strengths are!

Or perhaps they are doing well at their job but believe they are in the wrong line of work. They may enjoy their career, but they know there is more, so they resolve to discover and develop their unique skills further. This transformative process not only allows them to help more people but also opens doors for growth in the organization and the potential to earn more money.

Do any of these scenarios ring familiar? If you want to focus on your strengths to advance at work, here’s how to start.

Here are ten questions to help you identify your top talents and determine your best work fit. Remember, this is a journey of self-discovery and self-reflection, and each step brings you closer to understanding your unique strengths.

Here Is A Tip

Keep track of your responses to these questions as you proceed. You’ll see repeating motifs that you weren’t aware of before.

1. What were your favorite subjects or hobbies in school?

Our work-related wiring might manifest very early in life. Remember when you were in school before cultural expectations and financial demands influenced your actions? What did you love doing? Who were you? Did you have a passion for drama and succeed in theater? Were you quiet yet always willing to listen and encourage others, making you an ideal candidate for student council? You may have been interested in geography and languages, making you a good fit for the hotel or tourism industry. Consider the subjects or hobbies that come easy to you and can help you identify your strengths.

2. What kind of work is easy for you? 

Whatever the job, please don’t underestimate the skills required or the value they provide to the workplace. You may believe everyone can write as well as you do, but this is different. And employers out there require someone with your talent for narrating stories or capturing an audience’s attention with unique visual art. You may believe that a specific ability is in low demand, but have you examined all professional applications for that skill?

3. Where do you receive excellent marks in your performance reviews?

Think about your most recent performance reviews in your current position. Which of your performance metrics frequently meet or exceed expectations? Your leaders should highlight the skills and abilities you excel in. If unsure, document your tasks, the individuals you meet, and the project initiatives you propose to support your KRAs. Then, during your following performance review, you can collect feedback from your leader on the tasks and responsibilities you outperformed.

4. What are your most robust personality characteristics?

Don’t be bashful about this question! Be confident in your strengths. If you need help with this, get feedback from your peers and leaders or look into online assessments that identify these characteristics, such as my Get Clear Career Assessment.

Asking for feedback can be frightening, but it’s also a great way to discover your abilities. Ask coworkers, friends, or others you trust what they think your 3 most important personality traits are—and believe them!

5. What skill set appeals to you the most?

Are you better with people, manual labor, or data? Skill sets typically fall into these three categories.

Some people would rather talk to consumers on the phone than create a spreadsheet, while others despise picking up the phone. One isn’t better than the other, so consider which of these categories resonates with you.

6. What is your role in a team project?

Team projects can reveal a lot about your strengths because people usually gravitate toward duties and dynamics that suit them. Take stock of the last few team tasks you’ve completed to see if there is a pattern. Do you volunteer for a behind-the-scenes role, or is your team overwhelmingly choosing you for a leadership position because they believe you will make sound decisions?

You may be in charge of planning and scheduling team meetings and providing the group with a clear vision. Setting goals and creating a timeline is more your pace. Regarding teamwork, using your abilities to lead people or drive projects to completion is an excellent approach to stand out and advance.

7. What type of training or experience do you currently have? 

Classes, certifications, training, internships, freelance jobs, and hobbies contribute to experience. Assume you’re interested in event planning but have never received formal education or worked in the industry. However, you have hosted numerous dinners, arranged retirement parties for coworkers, and planned five years’ worth of birthday celebrations for your children. This sounds like an experience to me! You may also attend an event planning course and construct a portfolio from there, but a degree is optional to demonstrate your expertise. You need to devote time to it.

8. How do you prefer to spend your free time?

What gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment when you don’t have any tasks to keep you busy? Do you assist with children or animals in your community? Do you enjoy focused, artistic pursuits such as photography or woodwork? Pay attention to where your mind (and feet) wanders during your free time. If you notice any patterns in the places, people, and products you interact with, they could indicate where you fit in and what activities you excel at.

9. What do people need your assistance with?

Your talents may come so naturally to you that you are unaware that others are not as talented or capable. Begin paying attention to what people ask for help with. Are you the go-to handyman who can fix a project in a pinch? Because you’re a wordsmith, your coworkers may request you proofread email copies and resumes. Rather than comparing yourself to others and what they are good at, focus on the unique “asks” you can only assist with.

10. Whose work inspires and motivates you?

Consider the professionals whose work you admire and consume. You may subscribe to multiple podcasts hosted by world-class doctors or follow many internationally recognized interior designers on Instagram. Experts and mentors who inspire you will likely have insights into what you’re good at—or have the potential to be good at. When I was younger, I admired sports coaches and newscasters. Now, I coach people on their professional development using best-selling books and shows like The Ramsey Show and The Ken Coleman Show.

Why it is essential to know your strengths.

Leaning into your talents—your strengths, learned skills, and natural abilities—is essential for professional success and development. Talents can be hard skills like writing, coding, math, design, project management or soft skills like dependability, collaboration, or humor.

Meaningful, fulfilling work occurs when you spend most of your time at work using your talents—what you excel at. We all have responsibilities that aren’t our strong suit (or aren’t even enjoyable), but finding a job that allows you to use your talents will help you earn more money and have a more significant impact.

The more you know and understand your abilities and strengths, the more you can develop them and become a leader or expert. Then, you’ll be closer to being promoted or finding new work you’re passionate about.

Understand Yourself to Grow at Work.

Make a list of your strengths so that you can focus on developing those skills at your current company or filtering through job listings that match what you excel at. This self-awareness is critical for progress and growth in your current job and for finding new, meaningful work.

If you found this article helpful and want a more in-depth, personalized understanding of your strengths to help you succeed at work, I’ve got just what you need! My new book, Find the Work You’re Wired to Do (which includes the Get Clear Career Assessment), will help you understand who you are and how you’re wired. With this new, detailed self-awareness, you can advance your career and earn more money doing what you enjoy. The assessment has helped thousands of people gain clarity about their strengths—and it can help you as well.

Thank you for visiting Your Career Place.

Related articles from your friends at Your Career Place.

https://yourcareerplace.com/career-management-tip/career-management

https://yourcareerplace.com/career-development/unleashing-your-career-potential-a-guide-to-achieving