"You cannot be anything you want to be—but you can be a lot more of who you already are."
"When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists."
Focusing on strengths rather than "opportunity areas" in the workplace, and as a way of managing or leading, makes so much sense to me. It just feels right.
I've been reading StrengthsFinder 2.0, and Strengths Based Leadership in the last few days.
Their research proves that feeling out. People who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general, according to the Gallup organization.
"If you focus on people's weaknesses they lose confidence."
When you are not able to use your strengths at work, you are six times less likely to be engaged in your job. You are more likely to dread going to work, to treat others poorly, to achieve less on a daily basis, and to have fewer creative moments.
Not good for a designer, right?
I recommend taking the assessment and having a candid discussion with your employer about where you can begin using your strengths every day.
At the very least it will validate what you've already known and give you permission to stop trying to be more of something you aren't.
