How Do Your Strengths Make YOU Stand Out?

Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day? A lot of people don’t.  It’s not uncommon for our natural talents to go untapped.  Do you even know what strengths make you stand out? If you don’t, you need to.

“From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.”  This quote comes from one of my favorite tools for helping professionals navigate their career paths: StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath.

Over the past decade, Gallup has surveyed more than 10 million people worldwide on the topic of employee engagement (or how positive and productive people are at work), and only one-third “strongly agree” with this statement: “At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.”  How sad. But stop and think about it.  How would you rate yourself on that statement?  If you answered anything other than “strongly agree”, then this book has exactly what you need to move you from active disengagement to becoming fully engaged and filled with a spirit of hope, confidence, and direction in your career.  But no matter how you answered, I am certain you’ll benefit from this book and the StrengthsFinder assessment that accompanies it.

Why I love the StrengthsFinder assessment

StrengthsFinder gives you another way to articulate to others why you prefer specific types of work and why you may not be best suited for others. It gives you concrete examples of how you can navigate your career path for more fulfilling outcomes.  It gives you a tool you can share with those you work the most closely with so they can glean deeper insights into how to best leverage your strengths and core talents also.

How I have used the StrengthsFinder assessment

My StrengthsFinder assessment is a primary component of my professional portfolio. I have used it to explain what I do best and where my “sweet spots” are when I’m talking to potential employers, clients, or even new team members.  It has kept me from pursuing projects that were NOT a good fit for me…even though they may have initially been tempting.  When you’re asked to share your strengths and weaknesses in an interview situation, this profile gives you the exact words you may need in plain English. When building your online networking profiles, the assessment details can be a great component to include as well. Plus it gives you the confidence to explain to others where you are at your best!

Where you can get the StrengthsFinder assessment

When you purchase the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book (typically about $20), you will also receive a special code in a sealed envelope in the back of the book.  This code will allow you to access and take the online assessment at no additional charge.

Right in line with the StrengthsFinder assessment is another NEW assessment called the StandOut Assessment.  It’s only $15.  This is another insightful look into what makes you unique with your specific strengths and what makes you stand out from the rest as a result.  It not only helps you get a clearer picture of who you are, but it goes beyond describing your strengths and lets you know exactly how you can make the most of them.

Together, these two assessments are a powerful combination that every career-minded administrative professional absolutely must have in their toolbox for career advancement and job fulfillment.

Here’s your homework:

1. Order your own copy of StrengthsFinder 2.0 via my Amazon Affiliate Link now.
2. Read the introductory chapters (they are very short).
3. Take the StrengthsFinder assessment.
4. Review the assessment results and read about your top 5 specific strengths in the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book.
5. Purchase your StandOut Assessment via this link: http://standout.tmbc.com/gui/
6. Take the StandOut Assessment.
7. Review the assessment results.
8. Think about how you can use this material to realign your career path and professional goals.
9. Consider sharing these assessment results with the executives and team members you support as you work with them to become even more engaged and fulfilled in your work.