Blog

By Matt M. Starcevich, Ph.D.

According to Peter Drucker, noted Management Consultant—Most Americans do not know what their strengths are.  When you ask, they look at you with a blank stare, or they respond in terms of subject knowledge, which is the wrong answer.

Our own experience conducting career workshops confirms his view.  People have a hard time identifying and articulating their unique strengths.  They often refer to educational degrees, certificates, or positions held.  Your strengths are what you can do to achieve superior performance in these arenas. The main culprit is that we don’t see in ourselves what others do and we take our strength either for granted or assume that everyone can do what you do—no big deal!

Your strengths are transferable skills that make you unique—they are why others want to hire you. Can you put in writing or articulate these in an interview with instances to support each strength? Most people have 5-8 unique strengths that set them apart from others. The best way to define your strengths is through 360° feedback. Ask others who know you well to complete an email survey to identify the times they saw you performing at your best.

Career Clubs International uses this process then shares the responses in a group where your peers can help you interpret the responses and possibly validate what is being said with their own observations. Through this process you will be way ahead of the curve—you will know your own strengths!