Helping young professionals succeed in work and life

Playing Up Your Strengths

I am currently reading a great book – highly recommended – titled ‘The Happy Economist’ by Ross Gittins. Ross and I have a few things in common including a similar experience whereby we realised (through the boredom and drudgery of auditing) that Accounting was definitely not the profession for us.

In his book, Ross talks about how we will can increase our happiness at work not by trying to correct our weaknesses and perfect ourselves but rather by playing up to our strengths. This is a central theme in the new school of ‘Positive Psychology’.

Ross provides a link to Martin Seligman’s Authentic Happiness website which has a stack of self assessments (tests) that you can take to learn more about yourself including one about your character strengths¹. To complete the test you will rate 240 statements from 'very much like me' to 'not at all like me' (not for the faint of heart). The test will rank 24 character strengths and it took me about 20 minutes to complete.

I found out that my top strength is curiosity and interest in the world, followed by gratitude, love of learning, humour and playfulness and appreciation of beauty and excellence.

This is really interesting to me because if you asked me to list my greatest strengths of character I wouldn’t necessarily list those above but I can tell you that that list above captures almost perfectly the things I bring to the activities and connections in my life that help me feel whole, alive and inspired.

I also didn’t pass the opportunity to see what appeared at the bottom of my list. I was surprised somewhat that modesty and humility was my lowest rank #24 strength. I could explain that away but given the fact that I am posting a blog about my strengths I am not sure anyone would believe it – myself included.

It does remind me of the famous writing, ‘Out Deepest Fear’ authored by Marianne Williamson and spoken by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 Inauguration Speech, in particular the line ‘And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.’²

So is now a good time for you to take an inventory of your greatest strengths and shine a little light on you?

1 – Professor Martin Seligman’s website www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu

2 – Our Deepest Fear http://skdesigns.com/internet/articles/quotes/williamson/our_deepes...

Tags: 'Character, 'Positive, 'self, Happiness, Learning, Psychology', Strengths', assesment'

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Comment by Susan Broughton, CFP on March 29, 2011 at 12:59pm: Thanks Mei and Rachel for your feedback.

You are too right Rachel. You comment reminded me of a conversation I had with a male friend a couple of days ago. I told him I thought I needed 'to become more like a man' (which I saw as a positive thing) and he could not disagree more. But maybe I can be more like a man in just that one way of focusing on the positive and my strengths.

Comment by Rachel Seymour on March 21, 2011 at 3:55pm: This is a great post, and it highlights the gender differences in business too. Studies have shown that while men focus on their strengths, women tend to focus on the weaknesses, and forget all the things they do so well! I agree that focussing on your strengths doesn't mean you bury your head in the sand and act like your perfect, rather you play up those strengths and find other to help you with your weakness.

Comment by Mei on March 20, 2011 at 11:50am: Hey Susan, good post, I wld also like an opportunity to get out of ACCOUNTING!! btw have u received my email?? wasn't sure if you received it since it said u were away.

Comment by Susan Broughton, CFP on March 20, 2011 at 10:58am: Cheers Ali. I am not surprised to see Leadership in your top 5.

Love that we have no overlap and love your mantra!

Comment by Alicia Curtis on March 20, 2011 at 10:29am: Great article Susan. My top character strengths through the Authentic Happiness website were:

1. Zest, Enthusiasm, Energy,

2. Gratitude,

3. Leadership,

4. Creativity, Ingenuity, Originality

5. Hope, Optimism, Future-Minded

I strive towards using my strengths more and more every day!