If you have ever been in a job interview, you have likely been asked to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can practice your responses, go into the interview knowing how to respond, and then freeze. You quickly share three or four strengths and weaknesses, likely compliments you’ve received over the years from friends, family, professors, or former employers. But are they accurate?
Why is it so difficult to come up with a list of your strengths and weaknesses? One reason may be that you don’t understand them on a deeper level. Below is a brief guide on identifying your core strengths and weaknesses so you can create an authentic representation. This guide also gives you ideas on how to polish your strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Define Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths are positive traits you are born with or have learned. They are things that you excel at personally, professionally, or socially. Strengths may include internal characteristics like courage, kindness, determination, and a positive attitude. External strengths may consist of your network of influencers, ability to work with your hands, and activities you do to stay healthy.
Weaknesses are the areas in your life that could use improvement. It’s important not to get stuck on looking at your weaknesses and thinking they are more critical than your strengths. They are not. Weaknesses are not bad traits or make you a bad person. They are simply skills that need a little work so they can become strengths.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. What are yours? Start making a list.
Get An Assessment
There are many assessments; some are self-assessments, and others must be performed by a licensed professional, like a mental health therapist and coach.
Self-assessments can be found online, but you must consider the source. If the assessment is connected to fashion, beauty, health, or other general topics, take it for entertainment purposes only. It is a legitimate assessment if an assessment is linked to a university, psychology, or government research.
Working with a licensed mental health professional is the best way to ensure you get accurate results. Individual counselors are trained to ask questions that help you search for answers and teach you how to start using your strengths.
Get Feedback
Sometimes the best way to get answers is to ask the right people the right questions. Family and friends are afraid to offer honest feedback because they want you to like them. Others do not care if you get angry with them because they love you enough to tell you the truth. Choose the latter to get feedback on your strengths and weaknesses.
Have discussions with people who know you about past successes and failures, ups and downs, so you leave with more than just a list of strengths and weaknesses. Take it to the next level, so you understand the why behind them. This is something you can continue with your therapist when it’s time to change and make improvements.
Pay Attention to Yourself
This sounds simple, but this is not something people do throughout their days. Everyone is focused on helping others at work, home, and socially. You are too busy to take the time to recognize the great qualities you have and the areas to improve.
Start paying attention to yourself and keeping track. When you resolve a problem quickly and effectively, write down the skills you used. When you are feeling overjoyed, write down what is going on at that time. When you are struggling with a project or just feeling down, write down the circumstances. Journaling about yourself can bring about self-awareness about your strengths and weaknesses.
Embrace vs. Avoid
People tend to gravitate towards activities they do well and avoid activities they find hard to complete. What do you embrace? What do you avoid? Answering these questions can give you a good idea about your strengths and weaknesses. You can analyze every area of your life. The answers will likely be different for each. You may avoid giving presentations at work because you do not feel confident speaking in front of crowds. You may also volunteer to create an online presentation because you are an expert on the company software.
Once you get to know yourself better, you will want to improve those areas that need a boost. You can also make your strengths shine brighter. Here are some tips to get you started.
Tips for Improving Strengths and Weaknesses
It can be exciting to make positive changes in your life because you know something great will result from the changes. Before you jump right in, you may want to make a plan with your counselor. Being organized helps you measure your progress so you can enjoy the rewards.
Other tips include:
Set short-term and long-term goals for each strength and weakness you want to improve.
Seek learning opportunities that focus on the areas you want to improve.
Partner with others who share your strengths and weaknesses and who also want to improve.
Ask for help, no matter how small or large you see the problem.
Take one improvement at a time. Do not get overwhelmed by trying to do too much too soon.
Take care of yourself mentally and physically so you can stay strong and healthy.
Find a role model and learn from them.
Change your perspective (e.g., weaknesses are really opportunities to improve).
Use your strengths to improve weaknesses, and vice versa.
Reward yourself when you reach milestones.
Finally, keep in mind that improving strengths and weaknesses does not happen overnight. You are growing, learning, and developing skills throughout your lifetime. Think of making improvements as a journey. When you reach one short or long-term goal, reward yourself and then replace them with new goals. Always strive to be the best you. Don’t try to be better than others; be the best version of yourself.
Focusing on improvements will build your self-esteem and help you get excited about where you are heading.