We often do not take our talents and abilities into account when we evaluate our personal resources. This is especially true of those talents that we do not use and do not really know. There is a simple exercise that will help you learn about hidden abilities and develop them in yourself.
When you are asked questions about your personal resources, what do you answer? Do you talk about your material wealth? Or maybe you are talking about your wonderful friends and family? Maybe you are listing your knowledge and skills, bragging about a successful career? Are you sure you know everything about your talents and abilities?
Talents and abilities are a very important resource, especially at a time when you are going through financial difficulties. It may happen that except on them, you will no longer have anything to rely on.
The exercise below is called the Talent Chest. If you know about all your talents and generalize them, as if collecting them in a chest, it will be easier for you to apply one or the other as needed.
1. Write a list of all your talents and abilities. Divide it into two columns: in one, collect those abilities that you use, and in the next - those that you do not use.
Sometimes it is quite difficult for people to admit that they have any abilities due to the fact that they do not allow them to do it. Try to turn it off and look at yourself objectively.
2. Ask friends questions about you.
The following list of questions is suggested:
- If you were asked who is (oops) (your name), what would you answer?
- Where do you see my strengths?
- What strengths am I not using? How could I use it?
- What are my weak points? Where do you see my zone of proximal development (talents that are felt and ask to be realized)?
- In what situation would you turn to me for help? Why? How could I help you?
- What is my uniqueness?
You should interview at least three people you know, although the more the better. Some of the acquaintances should have known you for more than 10 years, they will help you remember the talents that you have safely forgotten. Another part of the acquaintances must necessarily be from the "new", they will be able to take a fresh look at those talents that have appeared not so long ago. And another part should know you from a year to 10 years. They will tell you about your talents, which are, but are weakly manifested.
Answer these questions too. Maybe you know something about yourself that others have no idea about.
3. Analyze the information received.
Combine all the information in an Excel spreadsheet and analyze it thoroughly. The opinions of the people around you will greatly enrich your idea of yourself as a person.
4. Try to immediately use at least one of the discovered talents.
Use one of the skills immediately, or at least within a week after completing this exercise. This approach will give you confidence and demonstrate that you can do much more than you thought.
