You may be strong as Superman, but you will always have the kryptonite to bring you to your knees. To move ahead in life, to grow & to face challenges, it is always vital to Identify Your Strengths. It is also equally vital to Identify Your Weaknesses. Knowing them is vital because you need to be prepared for any circumstance life throws at you & don’t let them catch you off-guard.
In any interview, the most common question is ‘What are your strengths & weaknesses? We usually form the answer diplomatically. We tell our strengths are those qualities applicable to the industry & weaknesses, which have nothing to do with that. But diplomacy might help us to get a job, but it won’t take us far if we don’t know our actual Strengths & Weaknesses.
Ways Of Identifying Your Strengths & Weaknesses
1. Make Two Lists
You must have some basic ideas of your strengths & weaknesses; we all do. Make two separate lists, one of your strengths & one of your weaknesses.
Not only just writing them down, try to add short notes beside them about how you recognized them or how they affected you. You may find out you can write a lot about your strengths, but you can’t go past 3 or 4 points when it comes to weaknesses.
This is also a weakness that you choose to overlook or be unaware of your weaknesses. There can be more than 3 or 4 weaknesses. You might consider your technical skills or professional achievements your skill, but think about what enabled you to acquire those skills or attain those achievements & note them down.
2. Talk To People You Trust
Talking to people you trust is an excellent way to Identify Your Strengths & weaknesses. People who know you can offer you more insights into yourself, which you may need to be aware of. Don’t ask any random people or colleagues; they don’t know you outside the workplace. Ask a family member, a friend, or your partner.
A colleague might say you are hard-working but often lose your calm. But someone who knows you personally might explain how you are well-organized but often tend to be a little volatile. They know you more than people in a professional relationship with you.
It is very easy to listen about strengths as sometimes they may sound like praises. But when it comes to weaknesses, it may be hard to accept them at first as often they sound like criticism. Keep an open mind & accept the fact that people are not criticizing you. They are just telling it because you asked them to. They are just trying to help you.
3. Take A Personality Test
Taking a personality test can tell many things about you. It will reveal your true self & strengths; it will also help you to Identify Your Weaknesses. There are several online personality tests. Please don’t fall for fun quizzes like ‘Which Avenger Are You’ or ‘Which DC Superhero are you.’ Take some truly effective tests.
Here are the names of some personality tests you can try:
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
- DISC Personality Testing.
- Strengths Finder 2.0.
- Caliper Profile.
- SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire.
- HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised.
- Revised NEO Personality Inventory.
- Eysenck Personality Inventory.
These tests are very effective as they are designed by highly qualified psychologists, educators & counselors. Upon completing those tests, you will have a detailed report analyzing various aspects of your personality, including strengths & weaknesses. If you are looking for free personality tests, many are available online.
4. Try New Things
Trying new things can make you aware of your strengths & weaknesses. Everything or every activity needs a particular skill set or aptitude. If you are doing well in some activity like rock climbing, painting, or cooking, then endurance & creativity are certainly among your strengths.
If you are not enjoying or doing well in activities like trekking or yoga, being physically inactive or not being focused enough is your weakness. Though you may fail at first while trying new things, you may feel like you are no good at all. Keep trying. Leaving things after the initial failure can never show your abilities or weaknesses.
5. Take A Break
It might sound counterproductive, but taking a break can help you to identify your strengths & weaknesses. Taking breaks can help us to break free of our routine life; it can refresh our body & mind. Just notice how you are spending your precious break. Don’t force yourself to do something. Just spend your break the way you truly want.
Notice if you are eagerly packing your bag for a holiday, handling those unfinished household chores, or just spending it on the couch with pizza & beer while streaming a movie on Netflix. These activities can tell a lot about you. You are made of your instincts & notice what attracts you while on a break.
6. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
While creating a comfort zone around us & not being willing to step out of it is certainly a weakness, stepping outside will help you recognize your true strengths & weaknesses. Attempting to step outside your comfort zone requires lots of courage & effort; if you somehow manage to do it, it will open many possibilities.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone will enable you to experience new things in life & will help you to define your likes & dislikes, strengths & weaknesses more distinctly. You can have many experiences once you step out of it; you may like some, and some you may not. But the overall experience will tell you who you truly are.
7. Talk To A Counselor
If you are still struggling to identify your strengths & weaknesses, talking to an experienced counselor might be helpful. A professional & experienced counselor can dive deep into your psyche & can bring out many hidden truths. They can pinpoint your key strengths & weaknesses & the roots of them.
Some Famous Quotes About Strengths & Weaknesses
There are many ways to Identify Your Strengths & weaknesses. Several prominent individuals also have put some importance on it. Let’s take a look at some of their quotes:
“The weakest ones are the wickedest cruel. When the strongest ones in gentleness rule!” – Ana Claudia Antunes
” Our strength grows out of our weakness.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Everyone, regardless of ability or disability, has strengths and weaknesses. Know what yours are. Build on your strengths and find a way around your weaknesses.” – Brad Cohen
” Cultivate a deep understanding of yourself – not only what your strengths and weaknesses are but also how you learn, how you work with others, what your values are, and where you can make the greatest contribution. Because only when you operate from strengths can you achieve true excellence.” – Peter Drucker
” I now know myself to be a person of weakness and strength, liability and giftedness, darkness and light. I now know that to be whole means to reject none of it but to embrace all of it.” – Parker J. Palmer
” Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.” – Thomas A. Edison
” Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” – Orison Swett Marden
FAQs
Q: Can weaknesses be covered with strengths?
A: Many people try it, but it is not advisable. A better approach is overcoming the weaknesses.
Q: Do physical strengths count as strengths?
A: Physical fitness & strength certainly counts, but they are useless without a strong mind.
Q: How identifying my strengths & weaknesses can help in my professional life?
A: Identifying your strengths & weaknesses can help you to exercise your strengths & keep a check on your weaknesses. It can be very useful in professional life.
