“Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses”

This time, you will need to put your ego aside and really reflect. We all have a problem seeing our strengths and weaknesses clearly. I never knew what to say when somebody asked me this question; either I didn’t want to appear cocky or I didn’t want others to think poorly of me because of my shortcomings. Either way, thinking like that won’t get you anywhere. Trust me when I say, get to know yourself! Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is an advantage in every realm.

That's why, in the next few minutes, I will explain why it's crucial to identify them, how to discover them, and how to effectively utilize your newfound knowledge.

What Does It Mean to Be Self-Aware?

To be honest, it's a really easy concept to understand, yet many people lack this ability. In your life, you've surely come across someone who is overly confident and thinks they’re the best at everything. That is a person who is absolutely not self-aware. On the other side, there are also people who constantly underestimate themselves. That is a person who is also not self-aware. As you can see, being self-aware is right in the middle of those two extremes. You know where you're good at, and you understand how to use your abilities to your benefit, but you're not too shy to admit when something isn’t quite your area of expertise.

Why Will Being Self-Aware Help Me?

For example, when it comes to stocks, I’m not the best at it, but I have someone in my circle who has way more knowledge than me, so what do I do? I ask him about it. And look at that, he’s not shaming me or saying, "Oh, are you stupid? How can you not know that?" No, he is helping me understand it. This is what most people will also do for you, whether it's a friend or a colleague.

How Can I Find My Strengths and Weaknesses?

The best strategy that has worked for me is really analyzing myself. What I mean by that is put your phone down and block out all outside noise. Focus on yourself and think about yourself from an outside perspective. Ask the question, “Who is that person?” Is it someone who you would admire for the things they can do? Think about traits you idolize and compare them to your character; you need to be brutally honest with yourself. Which criteria do you fulfill, and which don’t? This also trains you to be more self-reflective, which is a core factor in being self-aware.

And now, the most common recommendation when it comes to realizing your strengths and weaknesses. Ask people who really know you. For example, friends, longtime work colleagues, or family. Ask them questions like, “Why do you like being my friend?” or “What is one thing I do that annoys you?” If those people genuinely like you, they will tell you the truth no matter how harsh it may sound. Now, you shouldn’t get in your feelings or be mad about it; just take it as it is, say thanks, and as soon as there is time, think about what they said. Combine this with the tips I gave you about asking yourself hard questions, and you will know your strengths and weaknesses pretty quickly.