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EspañolMaximize Your Strengths and Become Your Own Superhero
Strengths and superheroes: Growing up, we are introduced to several superheroes which we often idolize, even as we grow older. We tend to imitate them too and imagine all kinds of scenarios. As adults, however, we somehow choose to ignore this imagination, and that’s our biggest mistake. Why not turning your imagination into reality? Why not be your own superhero and learn how to be successful with the way you are?
Every person has their own talents and skills. To help you find out the things that you are good at and that would make you successful, here are 5 easy steps to maximize your strengths.
1. Clarify your known strengths
There are actually two types of strengths – the known (realized) and the unknown (unrealized) strengths. Both of them are something that we are good at and give us energy to keep going. These strengths are often mistaken with the “learned behaviors”, which are the things that we are good at but drain our energy. Learned behaviors are like weaknesses, they also de-energize our mind and body even if we are good at doing them.
The Strengths Model
By clarifying our realized strengths versus the learned behaviors we will be able to maximize the use of our energy. If we will also be able to identify and discover our unrealized strengths and find opportunities to use them, we will feel more motivated and be more likely to achieve success.
2. Identify your hidden strengths
The acronym SIGN helps people to easily identify their strengths.
- Success (Your strength is something that makes you feel successful.)
- Instinct (It is something natural – a thing that you can’t help but be drawn to.)
- Growth (In this area, you grow, nurture and develop into a better you.)
- Need (It is something that fills your innate needs.)
Answering these questions will also help you know your passion and strengths:
- What are you good at?
- What do you enjoy doing?
- What gives you energy or motivates you?
3. Work out how to use your strengths more
In maximizing your strengths, you can use the acronym BEST as a guide.
- Be clear – Identify your strengths and where and when to use them.
- Examine – How can you apply your strengths better?
- Specialize – Focus on your specialty strengths and learn to improve them.
- Transfer – Share your strength with others. In sharing you will find out the areas you are missing and be able to work on them more.
4. Avoid your weaknesses and moderate the use of your “learned behaviors”
If you focus on what you are not good at and what you can’t do, you’re just wasting your time. Overusing your learned behaviors, on the other hand, will just make you de-motivated and exhausted. Learn how to avoid weaknesses and control the use of your learned behaviors to take full advantage of your strengths.
5. Beware of overdone strengths
There is a big difference between great attention to detail and being obsessive, as well as being confident and being arrogant. Overdone strengths often result in the very opposite of what you are expecting. These can even ruin your credibility. So, how are you able to get rid of overdone strengths? Here are some useful tips.
- Be aware of how you act when you’re stressed or nervous.
- Learn relaxation techniques.
- Work out how to use additional strengths in stressful situations.
Success is affected by how you are able to manage your weaknesses. But, it is a lot more about how you are able to maximize both your known and unknown strengths.
