My strengths just aren’t measuring up
February 9th, 2010 | Published in Career Development, Professional Development
Women are like teabags.
We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water!
I love this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. Albeit simply said, it says a lot. We don’t really know our true strengths until we have met a crisis. Although there are ways to get to know ourselves and our strengths before a crisis hits.
One of my favorite ways is personality and strengths tests. I am an avid learner and take as many strengths, work styles, and “What dog am I?” tests as possible. The more I learn about myself, the easier I am able to adapt to knew situations and grow professionally. Just this weekend I pulled out my “StrengthsFinder 2.0” book again. I took the profile test last summer and haven’t looked at my results in a while. My results are really a surprise, but put my strengths into perspective. My four greatest strengths are:
Activator - The book describes an activator as someone who “may concede that analysis has its uses or that debate and discussion can occasionally yield some valuable insights, but deep down [they] know that only action is real.” In other words, I feel action is necessary to move and get uneasy in situations where the group is “over thinking” the situation. StrengthsFinder suggests I ask my manager to judge me on outcomes rather then my process and “end stalemates by creating a plan”.
Discipline – My life needs to be predictable, ordered and planned. I l have a routine or system for everything. This doesn’t mean I can’t deal with change, it just means I institute a plan as soon as I hear a change is coming or if it has. The book suggests to discover places in my work where time or money are being wasted and increase efficiency, and check things as often as I need too. They say co-workers and family will get used to my need to recheck. I hope so.
Futuristic – My husband doesn’t like this one. I am fascinated by the future and love to peer over the horizon. I think a lot about how something I do or the community is doing will affect the future. What outcomes will there be and how can we improve what we are doing now to improve the results. Suggestions for a futurist include partnering with a strong activator (ironic), and choosing roles in which I can contribute ideas for the future.
Strategic- This trait, as the book says, “enables [me] to sort through the clutter and find the best routine”. I am always playing out different situations in which programs or projects can occur and how those situations might sway results. The book suggests being thoughtful about goals I want to achieve until I find patterns and issues, and find a group I think needs strategic thinking and join them.
It explains a lot right? All four characteristics are quite dominate in my life.
Lately, I have been thinking specifically about how my strengths are being used in my current job position. Well, really they aren’t being used much. I am able to find solace in my own routine and planning for my specific projects, but I miss out on a lot of strategic conversations and am not fueled often with a chance to get a new project going.
Over the past couple of years I have sensed an underlying frustration I could just not pinpoint. Why I didn’t notice this last summer when I took the profile I don’t know, but it is obvious I am not able to use my greatest strengths. To be honest I think I could work any where (well maybe that’s not 100% true) as long as I could get involved with strategic planning, leadership development, and activation of new programs in the organization.
I am seeking out opportunities outside of my work to fulfill my need for all things mentioned above and taking control of how I do my own work. Stretch assignments and board positions are holding me steady for now.
