Personal Strengths and Development Areas
This topic in the book Time To Get Real! looks at personal and professional strengths and areas of development and poses the questions, “What are your personal and professional strengths, and what plans do you have or could you have to further develop your skills and abilities?” An individual can’t accept their limitations or assets unless they can identify them and be honest about them. What are your strengths and areas requiring personal development? How do you find out what they are if you don’t already know?
Strengths, identified as areas of specific power, energy, knowledge, skill, or intensity that one embodies and can rely upon, are different today than they were yesterday and could be different tomorrow.
First, we understand that the strengths that an individual has can dramatically change over time. For example, the ability to play a specific sport may diminish. Other strengths, like being able to lead a large number of individuals at work, might increase. Strengths, identified as areas of specific power, energy, knowledge, skill, or intensity that one embodies and can rely upon, are different today than they were yesterday and could be different tomorrow. Much depends upon an individual’s focus on those strengths to acquire, build, or maintain them. In addition, individuals learn throughout their life, whether formally or through experience. We believe learning is life-long; therefore, personal development is life-long.
Choose the area of development in which you seek change, commit yourself to that change, and take your first step.
Personal development is defined by an individual’s actions, which improve awareness and self-identity and develop talents, skills, and potential. A company that Alex worked for had a motto, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.” This means that plans for your future can be better achieved if you develop the skills and abilities for who you want to become. You will take an honest look at areas that need or are desired for improvement. Have you performed a serious self-assessment? What have others told you about your performance, personality, and behaviors?
Weakness and the need for personal development is a part of human nature. Many people are aware of their weaknesses and should remember that weaknesses can stop us from achieving our goals. We need to recognize our weaknesses so that we can surmount or manage them. You also need to understand that if weakness cannot be overcome, there are ways to help. For example, at work organizing your team and making sure those representatives of the team have strengths in areas in which you may be weak. Or at home, agreeing with family members that certain responsibilities can be divided appropriately.
To initiate and sustain changes in yourself can take a day or a lifetime. The change that you seek can be made with grit and determination, but you have to mean it. And the only way to start is to start. Choose the area of development in which you seek change, commit yourself to that change, and take your first step. It will lead to the next.
Click this link to listen to Iris talk about her personal strengths and development areas.
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