Know Thyself: 3 Tips For Quickly Identifying Your Strengths - Bishop T.D Jakes

Discover your strengths and step into your purpose.

We’ve all been asked the question: What are your strengths? If it catches you off guard, then it's time to take personal inventory.

Your strengths are the foundation of your success. It's important to know which qualities make you stand out. Not only is being aware of your strengths positive for an employer, it also works in your favor. The more hours per day adults believe they use their strengths,reports Gallup, the more likely they are to note having ample energy, feeling well-rested, being happy, smiling or laughing a lot, learning something interesting and being treated with respect. In short, utilizing our strenghts make just about everything better.

If you're unsure how to start unlocking your strengths, follow these four tips.

1. What Makes You You?

Think about your personal and professional experiences. How have you dealt with high-pressure situations? You’re bound to think of at least three strengths. Not only will you be able to articulate your strengths, you’ll also be able to provide concrete examples or a story that showcases a time when that strength has been called upon to accomplish your objective.

2. Ask Around

It can be difficult coming up with a list of strengths, so there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. Tap those close to you –– friends, family and colleagues –– for their insight. Which characteristics reappear? Do they take you by surprise? Use their input to gain perspective so that you can focus on developing your strengths into superpowers. 

3. Pursue Quality Over Quantity

Whether you’re creating this list for your personal inventory or preparing for an interview, limit your list of strenghts to three, so that when you're asked to identify them, you're not fumbling through a dozen adjectives disconnected from concrete examples. You want to be able to back your strenghths up with strong stories and examples. Two or three quaility examples will speak volumes on your behalf.  

4. Take A Personality Test Online

A personality or skill assessment not only helps you learn about your strengths, but also your work style, career paths to explore and future success. Do you have a Type-A personality? Are you an extrovert? There are a bevy of exams to choose from online such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the VisualDNA "Who Am I" assessment.

Whether you choose to ask your close circle of family and friends or take an assessment, you'll gain a better understanding of the qualities and strengths that place you in a league of your own.