Reboot Your Career by Focusing on Strengths

Are you frustrated with your job? Do you dread going to work? One reason you may be unhappy is that you are not using your strengths in your career.

Traditional career advice tells you to focus on correcting your weaknesses. Strengths psychology, however, revolves around discovering your personal strengths and applying them to your line of work.

According to StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, you are 6 times more engaged in your job when you focus on your strengths. In addition, you are more likely to be positive and productive in your interactions with patients and colleagues.

To determine your strengths, buy the book and read up to page 31. Next, complete the 30-minute online assessment, which will list your top 5 strengths along with a detailed report. This will allow you to discover your talents and maximize your potential.

If you are a manager, consider having your team complete the assessment to ensure everyone is working to their fullest potential.

Here are my top 5 strengths, according to this exercise:

1) Learner - Has a great desire to learn and wants to continuously improve. Excited by the process of learning, rather than the outcome.

2) Deliberative - Best described by the serious care taken in making decisions or choices. Anticipates obstacles.

3) Analytical - Searches for reasons and causes. Has the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.

4) Strategic - Creates alternative ways to proceed. Quickly spots the relevant patterns and issues when faced with any given scenario.

5) Responsibility - Takes psychological ownership of what they say they will do. Committed to stable values, such as honesty and loyalty.