Play to Your Strengths

Avoid 5 Career Mistakes 

I recently asked a friend, "How's your new job going?" She replied,

"I feel like a tiger in a cage. I could offer so much more than I'm being asked to do."

Do you want to bring more of your talents to work? What's keeping you from doing so? In my work as a leadership coach, I've discovered five common traps that prevent employees from delivering their best.

# 1. You don't see your value. You might think your talents are 'no big deal.' Many leaders don't recognize the impact they're having on others. You've learned that modesty is noble so you don't focus on your worth. But this false modesty doesn't serve you.

ACTION: Take time to ask your customers, employees, and boss, "What do you appreciate about my work? How do you and others benefit from my services? Specifically, what do you value most?" Take a personal inventory of your strengths. Create a value proposition for your self. Recognize the value you bring to others.

# 2. You don't tell others. You might be working hard and producing great results, but no one notices or sees the value you bring. Don't wait to be picked out from the crowd. You can't assume others will recognize your talents. You must tell them.

ACTION: Start talking about what you love to do. Find ways to offer your best talents. Help your boss and co-workers recognize projects with your name on them. Calmly describe the contribution you want to make. It's the quiet clarity about your offering that makes you believable.

# 3. You don't say 'NO.' Are you a promiscuous head-nodder? When others ask for your help are you too quick to say yes? You want to be helpful and a team player so you jump right in. But soon you're struggling to keep your promises.

ACTION: Ask your self, "Is this project mine to do? What is the best value I can bring to this situation? Does this fit with my priorities?" And if it's not, then say no. NO is not a four-letter word. In today's organization, it's your responsibility to place your self where you can contribute the greatest value.

# 4. You don't ask for help. Are you trying to muscle your way through challenging projects? You might think, "This will be over soon. I can handle it. I just have to get through this week!" But there's always another crunch time around the corner. When you're in the middle of a quagmire and overwhelmed - you might get mad, get even, get skinny, get fat, cry, or blame others, but the one thing you don't do is ask for help.

ACTION: Recognize your limitations. Ask for help. Call on other's talents to help you. Challenge yourself daily with this question, "What am I doing now that could be done by someone else?"

# 5.You don't take risks. You want to play big. But while pondering what to do next - you end up marinating. You try to figure it all out before making your first move. Contemplating too long is dangerous. You end up frustrated and spinning your wheels.

ACTION: Step into the unknown. Then gradually the right path will open up. Rarely do I see individuals achieve their goals in straight-line fashion. Listen to niggling desires and take action. Learn more, explore and take risks towards your goals. You'll feel disconcerted at times - yet energized and alive.

It takes effort to side step these 5 common traps. Challenge yourself to see your value, tell others what you do, say 'no' more often, ask for help, and take bigger risks. I promise you'll have more fun and discover renewed passion for your work.

Have a great month!

Faith

Topics

• Coaching Skills
• Developing Employees
• Leadership
• Managing Talents and Career