Recognise your strengths
Research shows that people who use their strengths regularly are more engaged, more productive and more likely to report a good quality of life.
Strengths are our natural abilities. Often we use them without realising on a daily basis in all areas of our life, not just at work.
Using our strengths feels good and gives us a boost. When we are playing to our strengths we perform well and enjoy the activity.
Athletes maximise their strengths. Sports coaches allocate team roles to make best use of the strengths of each member.
You can make the most of your strengths. The first step is to recognise your strengths.
How to recognise your strengths
A good start is to think about something in your life that has gone really well. Write down what you did, what you enjoyed about it and how you contributed to the success. Can you name three of the strengths you used?
Daily reflection helps you to build a picture of your strengths. Try repeating the same exercise at the end of each day. At the end of the week, see if you can spot your top three strengths.
Your strengths also show up in the ways you spend your time. To help you to recognise your strengths, I’ve put the ways we spend our time into three categories.
1. Activities you are good at
These you find easy, but not necessarily interesting. Once complete you feel a sense of satisfaction.
2. Actions you are drawn to
It is likely that you don’t think too much before you take action. Before you realise, you are already doing it. There is some stretch required to successfully complete. The reward is a feeling of pleasure and achievement.
3. Pursuits you absolutely love
Time goes quickly and you are completely absorbed. Afterwards you feel a huge sense of fulfilment and happiness. This activity engages you in learning and you grow as a person on each occasion.
At the end of each day think about the ways you spent your time. For each of these, identify which of your strengths you used. See if you can spot your top three strengths at the end of the week.
So what?
When you recognise your strengths you can use them more often.
You can highlight your strengths in job applications, social media and C.V.
Playing to your strengths means you can love your work, which releases you to love the things that are important in your life.
How does career coaching help?
Career coaching supports you to recognise your strengths and make better use of them.
Your strengths are a key part of the package you present if you want to:
Love the job you have.
Get the job you want.
Change your career to a new direction.
Strengths-based career coaching focuses on what you can do.
Career coaching activities
- Recognise and celebrate your successes.
- Break free from things that are stopping you.
- Build positive self-belief and shift to a success mindset.
- Discover your strengths and explore how to build on them for the future.
- Identify what you want and what you need in your current or future job.
- Translate your strengths, knowledge, skills and experience to new sectors.
- Present your abilities and potential to your current or a future employer.
What are the benefits of career coaching?
- Know your worth.
- Have confidence in your abilities.
- Improve your performance.
- Feel appreciated and fulfilled.
- Focus your time and energy.
- Be inspired to learn and try new things.
- Achieve your career goals.
‘I was really impressed by Jo’s coaching approach and skills.
She helped me to identify my strengths, improve my confidence, and was at all times supportive and flexible.
Jo tailored a coaching plan bespoke to me. I would definitely recommend Jo as a coach.’ Matt, Brighton
Your coaching sessions
This is how your career coaching sessions with me look.
Copyright ©Jo Murfin 2020
What now?
I help you to love your work, so you can love your life!
Visit my Career Coaching page to find out how I can help you. Click here to visit Career Coaching Jo Murfin Coaching
As ‘At My Best Practitioner of the Month’, I shared one of the ways I enable clients to recognise their strengths. Click here to watch At My Best Practitioner of the Month