iFive

Given a choice, we will devote our energy at work to things we are both good at and enjoy doing.  Things that play to our strengths.  We don’t resent hard work when we are working hard at something that makes us feel good about ourselves.

For example, if you love analysis and are good at it, you will shut your office door, spend the day with your beloved reports, and feel great at the end of the day.  If you are energized by counseling and advising others, you will take every opportunity to meet with people and feel quite fulfilled at day’s end, no matter how many people you have talked with that day.

But, what if the combination of what you like to do and what you are good at, is not called for very often in the job you have?  It’s another way of saying that you are in a job that does not play to your strengths.  This happens a lot.  In fact, surveys show that most Americans believe that their work does not utilize their strengths.  Interestingly, the surveys never ask  “what are your strengths that are going unused?”

Here’s what happens over time when your strengths are not a fit to your work….

1. You avoid doing the things you need to do in your job and try to insert what you like and are good at into your job even when it isn’t needed
2. You ultimately pay a price by under performing, or you perform but end up burned-out, having health or relationship issues, and for sure, annoying your colleagues

Bottom line – you just don’t show up as well as you could.

So, examine your strengths allocation for a couple of weeks.   First, define what you are good at and like to do.  It’s not an “either”, it’s a “both” because you know you can be good at something even if you don’t like it.  A strength is something you are good at AND like doing.  

Figuring out your strengths may be the most  challenging and valuable part of this exercise.  Hint: don’t define more than 3.

Keep track of the time you are devoting to things that use your strengths.   It’s the same principle that is used in dieting when you write down everything, yes everything, you eat and drink for a couple of weeks.  The list always makes you think.