There’s an air freshener commercial on television where the occupants of the home have no idea how badly it smells. The focus of the commercial is the homeowners ‘nose blindness’ or inability to smell their offensive odors because they are too used to the scent. In essence, they don’t have a clue what other people smell when they enter the home for a visit.
The commercial hopes to protect the family’s reputation by masking the odor with an air freshener so they don’t suffer consequences for how their home smells. This commercial is a great metaphor for how those around us often sense or recognize things we may be ‘blind’ to.
One of the surest ways to pinpoint strengths…and weaknesses, is to ask a friend. Close friends with strong ties are excellent resources to help us discern blind spots that we may fail to see.
You Have Strengths You May Not Give Yourself Credit For
It’s natural to think people know our flaws, and they most likely do, but they also know our strengths. Trusted friends know us better than casual acquaintances. They have seen is at our worst and at our best. That makes them uniquely qualified to comment on our talents. If asked, your closest friends may highlight talents and strengths that you wouldn’t usually give yourself credit for. Sometimes seeing your best side through someone else’s eye can be remarkably humbling and boost your self-confidence.
You Have Weaknesses You May Not be Aware of
Trusted friends have our best interest at heart. They know who we are inside and out. They understand what motivates and frustrates us and they know our weak spots. Relying on trusted friends to be frank and honest with us is one of the benefits of a healthy friendship. Good friends can offer constructive critiques about our weaknesses in such a way that we thank them for pointing out our flaws rather than hiding in shame and embarrassment.
Tips for Asking Friends to Pinpoint our Strengths and Weaknesses
Asking a friend for feedback about what we do…and don’t do well, is easy. Here are a few tips to help get things rolling.
Tip- Be sincere with your request. When approaching a close friend for feedback, be sure to let them know that you sincerely appreciate their insight and want to know their honest opinion. Set their mind at ease by sharing your open-mindedness to hearing both positive and negative information because you trust them and know they have your best interest at heart. Be sure to give them the why behind your request. When people know they are helping it puts them in the right frame of mind.
Tip- Give them a tool to use. When asking for feedback, offer an easy-to-use tool that will help them convey the information that you need. You can write down questions they can answer on their own time or offer to have a chat over coffee. You may want to give them some questions to consider ahead of time so they have a chance to think about their answers.
Tip- Begin with what’s working. Start things off by focusing on what is positive. Even if your primary goal is to better understand hidden weaknesses you may be unaware of, starting off with positive feedback is best. It’s wonderful to discover strengths you may not have been aware people notice and they can be very helpful when you need to highlight your strengths.
When you need objective insight into your strengths and weaknesses, there’s no better resource than trusted friends. Tapping into healthy friendships can make identifying your strengths and your weaknesses easier than relying on your own assumptions.
