Practical Tools

What are strengths?

Strengths are the unique traits that come most easily or naturally to you. Your strengths can be leveraged to create quality job performance and can lead to a fulfilling life, when used to their fullest. Strengths can also be overdone, leading to an imbalance.

Learning about your strengths creates awareness and clarity, and it brings a positive focus to your self-concept. As you identify strengths, you might also find that there are development areas in which you are not as strong. Identifying your personal spectrum of strengths and relative weaknesses can help you see yourself more objectively, set goals, and build confidence.

It is common to think we must diminish our strengths to demonstrate humility, or focus only on weaknesses in order to grow. In fact, exercising humility really is an important strength all its own, and being authentic in weakness is essential to personal and professional development. While these two areas have their place, focusing on strengths can also be a powerful approach to learning about yourself and from which to begin creating what you are uniquely able to contribute to your relationships, work, and community.