Everyone has strengths, though not everyone is aware of them. Knowing your top strengths can increase self-awareness and make it easier to make wise decisions in your best interest. Strengths are innate abilities that give us an advantage and generally require little effort. We have strengths in all areas of life, including-
- What we know- knowledge based strengths
- What we do- transferable skill sets
- Who we are- personal abilities
Knowledge based strengths give us an edge- Our IQ or intelligence quotient is a measure of our intellect. Having a high IQ is considered a strength but there are more ways to have knowledge-based strengths. The more you know about a specific subject, the more advantage you have. Specialized training, education, and hands-on experience all enhance knowledge.
Transferable skills set us apart- What you can do easier and better than others gives you an advantage. Whether you have an innate talent for artistry or have mastered public speaking over time, your talents become an asset that sets you apart.
Personal abilities come from within- You were born with personal character traits and a unique personality that operates like no one else. This couples with your personal life experience and shapes how you view and operate within the world. The combination of your mindset and unique perspective affords you with special skills and talents others don’t have.
Tools to Identify Your Strengths
If you aren’t certain what strengths you have in these areas, there are tools you can use to find out. Taking a moment to discover your strengths can help you develop them further and use them to your advantage as well as help you notice any deficits you may want to overcome. Here are some easy resources to use that will identify your strengths.
Stanford-Binet IQ Test- This is the standard IQ test that has been used for years. There are free and fee-based versions of the test. A score over 130 can indicate eligibility for the Mensa organization.
Strength Finders Testing- There are a range of tests that breakdown strengths into categories and offer a range of your top skill sets. High 5 Tests is a free online test that uses a rating scale to assess skills and generate your top five skill sets.
Meyers Briggs Test- This test is a time-honored test designed to help people identify how they see the world and make decisions. The test is a self-reporting questionnaire style test and results in assigning a combination of categories that represent introversion or extroversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving.
Knowing your strengths gives you an advantage and helps you capitalize on the things you do well. Taking the time to assess your strengths makes sense when there are a wide variety of tools available.
