How Your Strengths & Values Can Help You Change Careers

In my recent group coaching session for Pivot with Purpose, we explored how deeply understanding our strengths can shape career decisions. Changing careers can feel daunting, but when you align your work with your natural strengths, you create a path toward fulfillment and success.

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The Four Categories of Strengths

Strengths tend to fall into four main categories: Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking, Influencing, and Executing. Each person has a unique mix of these strengths—some may lean heavily into one category, while others might have a more balanced spread across them. There’s no "right" or "wrong" in this; it’s about discovering what works best for you.

Should You Focus on Strengthening Weak Areas?

During our session, a participant asked an insightful question: “Should I work on enhancing strengths in areas where I score lower, or should I focus on what I naturally excel at?”

My advice? Stick to your strengths! If your top strengths are in Relationship Building, then this is where you’re likely to thrive. The more your work aligns with your natural abilities, the more enjoyment and ease you’ll find in your job. It’s a way to ensure that you not only excel but also feel fulfilled.

People often get tripped up by thinking they need to be a different kind of person to fit certain roles. This creates a misalignment, leading to dissatisfaction at work. Imagine trying to fit into a role that requires constant execution when your strengths lie in strategic thinking. The mismatch would leave you feeling drained and disconnected from your work.

Misconceptions About Weaknesses

Just because something isn't a top strength doesn't mean it's a weakness. A true weakness is something that creates a liability in your work—like being unable to use essential software for your job. In such cases, taking a class or professional development course can help you build competence where it’s needed.

For instance, if you score low in Executing, it’s wise to steer away from jobs that demand a high level of execution. Instead, focus on roles where your strengths, like relationship-building or strategic thinking, will shine.

Let Your Strengths Be Your Guide

Your strengths act as a compass, guiding you toward work that aligns with who you truly are. When you let them lead, you position yourself to excel and enjoy your work on a deeper level.

So, when considering a career change, take time to reflect on your strengths. Are you leveraging them fully in your current role? If not, how can you pivot toward a role that allows your strengths to take center stage?

Don’t feel pressured to mold yourself into something you're not. Instead, focus on what you already do well, and use those strengths as your personal selling point. Career fulfillment comes from alignment, not from trying to fit into a role that doesn’t resonate with you.

Want to learn more about the Pivot with Purpose program and how it can help you find a fulfilling and satisfying career? Schedule a free consultation call here. ?