What are the best ways to help clients identify their unique strengths and talents for self-employment?

There are lots of self-employment possibilities that will lend themselves to your strengths BUT if you only look at your strengths you're taking a one dimensional view. You may end up designing a path that doesn't align with your needs. Get clear on your values and what's most important for you in this next chapter. For example, if one of your values relates to security, then you'll need to think about what that means – maybe it’s starting something small on the side, or a portfolio career that integrates part time employment with your new venture. Thirdly, think about your ideal working day (and life). If for example, it involves lots of collaboration, then you'll need to design for that — either in your business or around it.

For sure knowing your strengths is important. But you can't just base it on that. Mapping what needs to be improved. It is essential for anyone who is a self-employee. The search for knowledge is constant, but the biggest mistake is trying to do everything alone and focusing on just one aspect.

The best ways to help clients identify their unique strengths and talents for self-employment involve self-reflection exercises, skills assessments, and feedback from peers. Encourage clients to reflect on past successes, hobbies, and passions to uncover innate abilities and interests. Conduct skills assessments or inventories to identify areas of expertise and potential gaps needing development. Facilitate peer feedback sessions where clients can gather insights from colleagues or mentors about their strengths and areas for improvement. By combining these approaches, clients can gain a deeper understanding of their unique talents and leverage them effectively in their entrepreneurial pursuits.

Supporting your client in this search based on tactics and strategy will help them find the best option. Tests, exercises and conversations during mentoring will help with insight and facilitate discovery.

Encourage clients to engage in self-assessment exercises to identify their strengths, passions, interests, and skills. This could involve activities such as personality assessments, skills inventories, and values clarification exercises to help clients gain clarity on what they excel at and what they enjoy doing.

Doing a test to score the skills will help the Mentor target their clients. Now make a plan and identify the fields in which this person can work and how they can get there.

It's important to have vulnerable conversations with mentees regarding how they evaluate their own performance. Many talented individuals are struggling with imposter syndrome. In a world where what is posted on the internet consists of individuals primarily trying to market themselves, it can be overwhelming for early careerists to recognize the unique skills they bring to the table. Building trust must happen first and foremost- for any client to be open to developmental feedback, they must first trust that you will be honest with them and have their best interests at heart. We may see strengths or areas of opportunity for clients to focus on that they miss, but there can be no growth without trust.

Doing a study and getting to know the market and your competitors will help you draw up a strategy and demonstrate what your client can do and what they need to prioritize. Helping the client make adjustments and recalculate the strategy is also recommended.

The specificity of SMART goals ensures that individuals have a clear understanding of what they want to accomplish. This clarity helps in identifying the necessary actions and resources required to reach the goal. Aligning goals with personal aspirations and organizational objectives ensures that efforts are focused on activities that contribute meaningfully to one's overall career trajectory. This alignment provides a sense of purpose and direction, guiding individuals towards fulfilling their professional ambitions effectively and efficiently. Ultimately, the SMART goal framework serves as a roadmap, bringing clarity, focus, and direction to the professional journey.

Goals certainly have to be SMART and also achievable. Teaching and supporting your Clients at this time will help them face difficult and crucial moments in their career.

SMART Goals are one of the suggestions I am exposed to most frequently in leadership courses, mentoring packets, and online articles. The trick is breaking down these goals into reasonable, attainable chunks. If the goal is too overwhelming, breaking it into smaller milestones can build momentum and confidence. Additionally, have honest conversations about clients and mentees regarding their goals. I have found that some of my brightest clients set goals based on what they think they SHOULD want to attain, even if those goals don't actually take them closer to a long term career goal. Career mapping, exposure to different roles, and honest conversations can help to ensure we are guiding our clients to where they want to be long term.

Be your client and mentees biggest cheerleaders! Share their accomplishments. Introduce them to your network. Forward them resources they may like. Support them in practicing skill development. Make time for them. The most important thing a career counselor or mentor can do for their client is believe in them and be a safe space for them to learn, experiment, make mistakes, and explore their own talents without judgement.

By employing these strategies, career advisors and coaches can empower clients to recognize and leverage their strengths and unique talents effectively in the pursuit of a successful and fulfilling freelance career. Through self-awareness, skills development, market awareness, and support networks, clients can position themselves as valuable assets in the freelance marketplace, ultimately leading to greater satisfaction and success in their freelance endeavors.