Written by: Linda Dent, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Do you understand your own strengths? I am not talking here about physical strength, emotional strength, or even mental strength. Rather it's about discovering what makes you unique and how knowing your strongest attributes can lead to effective leadership and following the right career path for you. As a business owner, it can direct you towards that sweet spot where you do what you love, and others love what you do.
I first discovered my own top strengths by reading this book – Now, Discover Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton and Marcus Buckingham, which teaches how to succeed using your most powerful natural talents.
What about our weaknesses? It seems that many of us have little idea of our talents and strengths. When I ask a business owner what their strengths are, invariably, I get responses such as “Well, I am a good electrician, but I am not good at finding clients.”
Why do we do this? – Talk about ourselves in such dulcet tones and feel the need to explain what we cannot do. I'm certainly not inspired by such a statement, so why would potential clients come flocking to your door? If you spent any length of time working for a company, you would have experienced performance reviews and learned to focus on your weaknesses or forego the bonus. How can anybody be perfect at everything? Sales, Admin, Finance, Strategy, Operations.
On our CVs, we list all the tasks that we have performed over the years but not how well we performed them.
If this is you, it's time to let go of the negativity! Do not stress about the things you cannot control and start a discovery journey – YOU and your strengths!
Discovering Your Talent
Once you discover your top strengths, you have a vocabulary to talk about yourself to other people.
For example, my top strengths are analytical, maximizer, focus, deliberative, input, and relator.
I can introduce myself to you as somebody who loves to ask questions (analytical), to understand how your business works and the challenges you are facing, and once I do to help you to enhance (maximize), the work you do through zoning in (focus) on different aspects of your business and coaching you to plan and consider risks (deliberative). I will help you by researching options (input) and then working out a plan of action together that works for you through a long term coaching program designed just for you (relator).
Can you see how these sentences tell you more about me as a person and a businesswoman and leader?
Whilst I may not be a strong Ideation (rocket scientist) or Woo (able to sell ice to Eskimos), these are not failings, but they highlight where I might seek help from others rather than others battling to be this person myself.
Hitting The Sweet Spot
Understanding your unique strengths can lead to a fulfilling career, whether you work for a company or own your own business.
Helping others to understand their strengths can lead to better relationships, a greater understanding of the power each person brings to a team, and sustainable results.
Start A New Journey
Reach out for a Virtual Cuppa with Just Ask Linda to have a conversation about strengths.
Connect with me on Social media. Links below.
Linda Dent, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Linda is a Business coach with a solid background in the Banking Industry. She believes in building businesses through long term relationships and a partnership approach to grow and empower the small business owner through planning, actions and regular reviews of actual results vs. planned results. She is the Founder and CEO of Just Ask Linda Business Coaching, which was born out of a desire to Grow, Learn, Empower others and Enjoy her work, her very own GLEE philosophy. From understanding your unique strengths and how they apply to work, establishing where you are now and where you want to be in your business, getting to know your numbers and setting goals, managing your time, or rather how to do more of what you love each day, building a loyal team of employees or just listening to the business owners’ major business challenges and offering up new thinking, you can Just Ask Linda. If she can make a difference in a business owners’ life, helping them to overcome Money, Time and Team challenges to grow a successful business and share some part of their business journey; then she will be full of GLEE. Owning a business is an adventure, and she loves the one she is on.
