Strengths are abilities that require physical or mental effort. They may be something that you want to share with others, and people may tell you that you are good at it. Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that you love it, so look for activities that give you strength when you engage in them. When an activity draws you in and time flies by, it may be a strength. Strengths may be developed skills that have been learned or natural talents. Sometimes the personal qualities that are your positive traits are called character strengths.
Identify Your Strengths is Part Two of Discover U in Ten Steps and part of a self-assessment to uncover hidden talents. Find a free printable self-assessment form at the Brand and Purpose Toolkit to list your top strengths.
Identify Strengths
The 34 Clifton strengths sort into four domains: Strategic Thinking, Relationship Building, Influencing, and Executing.
Try the complimentary strengths assessment from Marcus Buckingham, author of “Now Discover Your Strengths.”
SWOT analysis is a planning tool to clarify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Use the SWOT form at Do a SWOT Analysis to list your top five strengths. Then think about what you would like to work on and list five areas to develop. Consider what opportunities there are that could most help you and possible threats that could stop you. Another tool that is similar is SOAR, which looks at strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results.
More tools to identify Strengths are at List.ly and the Strengths Pinterest Board. See also SWOT analysis at Livecareer, and SWOT analysis at Mind Tools.
Develop Strengths
Develop Skills | Develop Character | Development Plan
The book “The Power of Full Engagement” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz has ideas for developing four sources of energy: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In the same way we can develop physical strength with exercise, we can develop strength in all areas.
- Discover your heroes
- Identify your strengths
- Explore your skills
- Examine your beliefs
- Look at your values
- Develop a mission statement
- Learn about your personality and interests
- Think about your talents and goals
- Tell your story
- Express yourself
How to Start a Fire (pdf) is a free eBook on discovering what you are passionate about.
Brand and Purpose Toolkit at Resources
I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.
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