By Darien Fleming

Individuals who lean into their strengths every day are 8 times more productive, 6 times as likely to be engaged in their work, and 3 times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life(1).  Do you know what you do best?  If you cannot easily speak to your own natural abilities, ask yourself the following questions:

• What kinds of activities are you looking forward to doing at work soon?
• What kinds of activities are you drawn to? Do you pick up quickly?
• In what activities do you seem to automatically know the steps to be taken?
• What activities give you a kick, either while doing them or immediately after finishing them and you think: “When can I do that again?”

Your answers to these questions are a clue to what your strengths are.  If you cannot answer these questions and want help identifying your strengths, consider taking the Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment(2).

Gallup’s research has found that when people learn how to consciously apply their strengths to their goals and tasks, their ability to perform with excellence increases substantially.  The better you can apply your natural talents and abilities to your work, the greater your potential to consistently act with more confidence, direction and engagement.  If you want to build more joy, excitement and motivation into your work, be more of who you are already and do more of what you do best.

Click here to download a simple worksheet to help you identify the tasks and responsibilities that keep you busy, what’s most important to your work, and where your strengths lie.  This worksheet will also help you identify places where partnerships would be of value.   There is real power in partnering with others, particularly with people who have different strengths than you.  Reflect on other administrators in your firm who you know that might be strong where you are weak and consider helping each other out!

(1) http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/186044/employees-strengths-outperform-don.aspx
(2) https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/

Darien Fleming, Executive + Career Coach and Trainer
Darien@IMpossible.guru •617.823.7794 • www.IMpossible.guru