How to Identify Areas for Personal Growth

The arrival of the Fall season inspires self reflection (and perhaps a few pumpkin spice lattes). Although mid-year reviews have long passed, I bring them back up as self reflection and mid-year reviews go hand in hand. Mid-year reviews are great because they offer an intentional pause that allows us to take stock of where we are mentally, emotionally, and developmentally in our professional journeys. Over the years, I've developed my own personal professional mid-year review process, and it has proven to be invaluable. It's not just about aligning with company goals but also about measuring progress toward the objectives I've set for myself professionally. Here's what my mid-year review involves: 1️⃣ Goal Check-In: I revisit the goals I set at the beginning of the year. Have I made progress toward them? Am I on track? Do I need to adjust any of these goals? 2️⃣ Skills and Development: I assess my professional development efforts. Have I acquired new skills? What have I learned so far this year? What skills do I want to focus on in the coming months? 3️⃣ Mental and Emotional Well-being: I take a moment to reflect on my mental and emotional state. How am I feeling about my work? Am I managing stress effectively? Do I need to prioritize self care? 4️⃣ Feedback and Support: I seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, and supervisors. What are my strengths, and where can I improve? Do I need additional support or resources to excel in my role? 5️⃣ Reframing Opportunities: I identify areas where I may need to adjust my mindset or perspective. Sometimes, a simple shift in thinking can lead to breakthroughs. Remember, the mid-year review isn't about self-criticism but about growth and self-awareness. It's a chance to celebrate your achievements, acknowledge areas for improvement, and chart a clear course for the rest of the year. If you're interested in accessing my personal worksheet for the mid-year review, feel free to send me a direct message. I'd be more than happy to share it with you.

Unlock Potential! 🔐 In my career coaching and leadership development work, I've found that focusing too much on people's weaknesses can be demoralizing and limit their potential. My approach is to identify and build upon individuals' innate strengths and talents instead. Here's why: ☑ Improves confidence and motivation. When you start from a place of weakness, people feel inadequate. But focusing first on their natural abilities energizes them. ☑ Capitalizes on what comes naturally. It's easier to excel in areas where you have innate aptitude rather than struggle to become competent. ☑ Makes weaknesses irrelevant. When you maximize strengths, you don't need to rely on your weaknesses as much to accomplish goals. ☑ Creates passion and engagement. People are naturally motivated when pursing endeavors matching their strengths. ☑ Makes people well-rounded. Teams balanced across different strengths can complement each other's weaknesses. Of course weaknesses still need development. But making strengths the priority unlocks performance and creates enthusiasm for improvement. Here are a few tips: ✔ Have people take strength tests to define their talents ✔ Identify how strengths apply to a person's role and goals ✔ Develop plans to maximize use of strengths each day ✔ Use strengths to achieve goals and compensate for weaknesses ✔ For weaknesses, set minimum standards, not expertise goals Focusing on deficiencies limits potential. But capitalizing on people's natural abilities sets them up for growth and achievement. What are your thoughts on coaching people based on strengths vs weaknesses? I'd love to hear your experiences! #unlockpotential #strengthsnotweaknesses #leadershipcoaching

Do you know what you're good at and what makes you, you? If you are early in your career, here’s how to find and use your strengths to make the right career decisions. After years of reflecting on this and talking to others, I’ve realized that the moment you start focusing on your strengths, you feel less confused about your career path 😌 , more confident about the value you bring to the table 💪, and ultimately, are better positioned for success. 🚀 So here are some tips and questions to help you unlock your superpowers. Use them and let me know if they help you discover what’s unique about you. 1️⃣ What are some past experiences and hobbies where you lost track of time and excelled effortlessly? Those skills and qualities can translate to professional strengths. 2️⃣ What projects, internships, or online courses have you tried and enjoyed? New things can uncover hidden talents and strengths you weren't aware of. 3️⃣ What do people often praise you for? These compliments might point to your hidden strengths. 4️⃣ What are some challenging tasks you can attempt outside your comfort zone that can reveal dormant strengths or areas for growth? 5️⃣ Finally, you can spark self-reflection by talking to a wise friend/coach or taking a personality test. What you uncover may surprise you! Remember, strengths can be found in personal / professional settings. Translating them is key. You may have many strengths, and their importance may vary depending on the context. They are also dynamic and can be developed throughout your life. Don’t lose heart if it takes some self exploration and learning to figure out! Own it. Build your career and brand around it. ✨ If this isn't quite answering your question, tell me your scenario below and I’ll try to respond with something helpful. 💬