Do you really know yourself?

Every week, I facilitate the behavioural session for new employees in a major MNC. My session is part of a day long series of sessions on HR, PF , bank account opening and other joining formalities. The new hires are filling up an array of forms of all kinds. It's the first day at work for the new hires who have experience ranging from one year upto even twenty years.

I usually start my session by asking them a question, ' What are you really good at?'

My question is usually met with silence.

Last week, after waiting for a full minute and repeating my question, I saw confused looks in the eyes of most of them.

'I'm getting worried now.’ I said. ' Don't tell me we just hired a bunch of people with no talent?!’ 

I rephrased the question, ‘Can you name just one thing you can do very well?’ 

There was nervous laughter around, but still no answers forthcoming. 

To shake them out of their stupor, I joked, ‘ One thing I see you all are very good at is to stare silently at me when I ask you a question!’  

More people laughed , And slowly the answers started coming; ‘Coding’ , ‘Vendor management’ , ‘ Patience.’

What I find worrying is that the average professional just can’t come up with an answer when asked about his/her strengths. Is this because they think they have many strengths and don’t know which to say? Or that they really don’t know themselves?

In interviews people are asked , ‘ What are your strengths?’ and the answers are very scripted and monosyllabic . ‘team player’, ‘ hard worker’, ‘quick learner’. 

Not many are able to elucidate their real strengths, what they are really good at. 

This is because many are not willing to take the time for introspection, for self analysis. To go within and identify what their true talents, skills and abilities are. 

In these VUCA days, It is critical for everyone to know ( and tell) what are their strengths.

Some simple ways to identify your strengths:

1. Make a list of what you love doing: If you love to do something, you will do it for hours, days or weeks on end. You don't need any external motivation to do it. And obviously you will be very good at it.That's a sure sign of a strength.
2. Prune the list: In the list you just made, you may have things like 'singing', 'lazing around' or 'networking'. Identify which among your strengths can be put to use in your work situation. Think of situations when you have actually put that particular skill/ strength to use. Now you have a ready answer ( with a real life example) when anyone asks you about your strengths.
3. Take feedback: Ask people who know you (friends. colleagues and family) what they see as your strengths.
4. Engaging a coach can also help you discover and verbalise your real strengths 

As a leadership coach, it is my mission to help my clients 'discover the leader within' . I work with Entrepreneurs & Managers to help them discover, verbalize and capitalize on their innate strengths. And build new strengths too.

Please share this article with anyone who is keen to discover themselves.