Develop Your Strengths

Góðan dag (Hello in Icelandic [Germanic])

With PRS time upon us, consider taking a little advice from Marcus Buckingham, author and researcher in the area of workplace performance. In his most recent writings, Buckingham addresses the benefits of building up ones strengths. His premise is that instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, you can be more successful and have more satisfaction at work if you focus on developing your strengths.

Usually, in performance discussions, we gloss over our strengths and take them for granted. Then we chide ourselves for our weaknesses, and promise to get better in those. Buckingham recommends that we improve upon our weaknesses only as necessary, and that we spend more of our energy to become excellent in the areas that we like and are proficient in – our strengths.

To appreciate your strengths, look at what you do in your job in a given week. Distinguish the specific activities that you enjoy and are good at. Begin to identify yourself as being strong in those areas and offer those talents as projects come up. As you exercise your strengths, you will become more skilled and more valuable to the organization. Ideally you will also have greater joy in the work that you do.