We all have something unique we bring to the table; something we do differently (and better) than others.
The great irony is that while we can easily see the value of contributions by others, we can sometimes find it hard to figure out what our own strengths are.
To aid you in that effort, I’m giving away a copy of StandOut by Marcus Buckingham.
Read on for details.
Knowing your strengths
Talking to others around you – those you work with, work for, or who work for you – can help give you great insight into your strengths. And you can help them by sharing your thoughts and observations about their strengths.
The challenge in this approach, however, is articulating it clearly and establishing common terminology for these discussions.
That’s where standardized and objective approaches come in handy, like the StandOut book and online test that I reviewed last week.
The book and companion test developed by Marcus Buckingham are based on over a decade of research and analysis of individual strengths, particularly in the work environment.
Playing to your strengths
Once you know your strengths, it can be a great advantage to play to your strengths.
Seeking out the best projects, teammates, and environments to let your best features shine is a great strategy for professional development.
And it’s a refreshing and energizing change from the typical focus on improving weaknesses.
Win a free copy of StandOut by Marcus Buckingham
Want to take the next step?
I have an extra copy of StandOut by Marcus Buckingham (complete with a sealed and unused code for the online test), and I would love to give it to a reader of this blog.
Please leave a comment on this post if you’re interested.
Tell us about your personal strengths, your best tip for professional development, share a fun or funny anecdote, or otherwise add to the conversation.
I’ll leave this open for a few days and then pick an interesting or insightful commenter as the winner.
Photo credit: Sara V
