There is no doubt that if your current employment is not tapping into your strengths, your motivation, sense of wellbeing, and your career, will suffer.
So how do you identify your expertise rationally and effectively, to boost your confidence?
Well, self-knowledge is a wonderful thing, although not always to be trusted on its own, so casting an eye over the way your work colleagues respond to you, or even quizzing them directly can be extremely beneficial.
Competencies like teamwork, problem-solving and leadership skills are more often highlighted by associates, especially when morale is low, so tap into this resource to re-boot your understanding of your employability and potential career progression.
Are there particular personal qualities that are repeated in these discussions that you haven’t considered before? Perhaps they can guide you to harness these particular strengths more often and more assiduously in the workplace, which could boost your sense of purpose and ease?
Perhaps there are also skills that you are often complimented on outside the workplace, that you could adapt to your working environment to bring a greater sense of proficiency?
In fact, understanding your personal passions can be absolutely pivotal in plotting an attractive and fruitful career map, although don’t forget to recognise those areas of your working day that fly by because you are so engrossed because these are clear signs of where your heart is at its most content.
Of course, a workplace is by its nature an environment which lives and dies by the relationships that are formed, and it is a significant part of identifying your strengths to recognise those individuals with whom you feel most relaxed.
Understanding the kind of relationship that brings the best out in you, will really help you navigate your professional waters with the least drama, jumping into scenarios where you can shine and avoiding those which will magnify your weaknesses.
Then of course when you are trying to identify your particular skillset – and market it – be cautious about using oversimplified generalisations to express your value. Yes, you may be an excellent copywriter, as are many, but your specific interest in SEO or a particular subject can also be something that might just lift you above the crowd.
Finally, when you have not only examined your own perception of yourself, as well as others, remember, that your own insight into the strengths and weakness of others can be a leadership tool on which many businesses thrive.
Assessment 4 Potential can ensure that your talents are suitably and appropriately marketed for your next job.
Lynn Tulip is a Registered Career Development Professional with over 20 years of experience working with individuals, helping them prepare for their career transition and supporting them back into work. Her expertise includes 2021 job search strategies.
Copy by a communications professional, Suzanne J. Cairns