For many people the new year or a start of a new month is an ideal time to take stock of your goals and intentions and to set a vision for what you would like to see next.
There’s always a great sense of excitement and anticipation in the planning stage, then the block comes when it's time to take action, particularly when it comes to applying for that new role, positioning yourself for that big project, making a big move or navigating any change.
The ability to identify and clearly articulate your strengths and your transferable skills for yourself and, to those around you is key. This helps you to foster self-awareness and your ability to set meaningful boundaries. This helps to boost confidence and it enhances your motivation to accomplish what you set out. This in turn leads to an increased sense of purpose in both your professional and personal life.
Identify your skills and play to your strengths
You know when you are playing to your strengths because you feel energised and open to learning and sharing your point of view.
To help you to really hone in on what your strengths;
Think of a time when you were utterly in your element, when you felt appreciated and full of energy, what were you doing? Who were you with? What impact did you have?
What are your hobbies? What are the activities that bring you joy? Some clues to your strengths can also be found there.
What do people compliment you about? Feedback can also hold some clues to your strengths.
Take some time to reflect on the questions above, write down what comes up for you and then think of ways you can use those strengths you’ve identified more often.
We can have a tendency to focus on weaknesses and on the improvements we can make, this can drain energy. Whilst it's important to address weaknesses and challenges that may hinder progress, it's also important to be mindful when this is having a negative effect. Identify your weaknesses and then look for ways to overcome them. Ask for help where possible and remember to delegate. Your weaknesses are someone else’s strengths and likewise your strengths are someone else's weaknesses that they're looking to overcome.
Use your strengths to enhance your transferable skills
Transferable skills are your soft skills and abilities that you use in various settings and environments. These are the skills that you may not actively acknowledge, they include skills like effective communication, leadership, teamwork, time management, multi-tasking, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
These are the skills that you have acquired through life experiences – good and bad - and through formal education, employment, volunteering, and other personal pursuits. These are the skills that demonstrate your adaptability and potential. It’s important to take time to take stock of your skills and find ways to effectively communicate and demonstrate these. It’s also important not to underestimate the value of these transferable skills.
Now take action!
By identifying and articulating your strengths and understanding how you can overcome any weaknesses, you can harness your transferable skills for personal and professional growth. Use what you’ve identified and articulated to be the best version of yourself so that you can achieve and succeed.
So, what’s your first step? Who do you want to ask for feedback? Who needs to hear about your strengths? What skills are currently underutilised? Now is the time to be bold and take action in line with your goals and intentions!