Are you sure you know your greatest strengths?

This should be easy: Name your top three or so greatest strengths.

Got ’em? Are you sure?

Are you really sure?

Most people think they know the standout strengths they bring to the workplace. But the truth is, most people never get a full and accurate accounting – and many people go through life never knowing the best of what they bring to the table.

Why? Because we’re too close to ourselves to be objective. Because we can be too humble. Because we might be a tad cynical. Because our strengths may have morphed into habits that we now take for granted. The reasons are many and varied.

So try something different.

Ask three or so co-workers what they see as your strengths.

You don’t need some special meeting for this. Keep it informal and just ask. You’ll be pleasantly surprised and thoroughly informed by their answers.

Will they think your inquiry is strange? Sure they will, at first.

But within five minutes, they’ll be asking you to tell them their strengths.

By Tom Terez • Contact
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