Using Your Strengths During Uncertain Times

Erika Osmundson
February 05, 2021
Newsletter Article

If you had asked me if we’d still be facing a pandemic a year later, when this whole thing started, I would have emphatically said ‘no’. But alas, here we are. While it is easy to dwell on the negatives of the situation and all the things that are more challenging during these times, it shines a light on those that can rise above the circumstances and make the most of the situation.

As we look at this from a career perspective, yes, your technical skills are a strength and asset. But, when I think of strengths, it is more the intangible and soft skills that I lean toward. If you have never completed the StrengthsFinder Assessment, this is one of the best out there (in my opinion).

This assessment is valuable in how you see yourself and can contribute to a team/business. It also provides insight into how you interact with team members, family, and friends. However, most of all, it gives you a place to lean into for what you can do and continue to use to your advantage.

There are lots of different assessments that you can use, but the goal is to identify what those core things you are good at are (and I’m not talking technical skills). The awareness piece is the first step to using them to your advantage.

From there, hone in on those skills and how you use them day-to-day. Are there situations at work that you could use your skills to make the situation better? Let’s look at some examples. We’ll use the StrengthsFinder Assessment as our base, but again there are a number available.

If Communication is one of your top strengths, step up and lead the efforts in reaching out to others and asking about their circumstances. Are they doing okay? How is their family handling the pandemic? What challenges have they encountered that they didn’t expect? As we all know, the act of communicating can relieve stress

If you are an Achiever, look around your workplace and see what needs doing. Perhaps there are some projects or tasks around the workplace that you haven’t gotten to. Dedicated some time to work through those. This sense of accomplishment is just what an Achiever needs to stay motivated.

If you are Analytical this might be a good time to evaluate what you are doing and how to make improvements to processes, products, services, etc. Exercise those brain muscles and use them to the benefit of your work. Again, this is a great motivator for someone with the Analytical strength but also provides the business value that could be recognized and rewarded.

If Empathy is one of your top strengths, you feel for those around you. In difficult times this is very important. Sometimes people just need to know that someone is there with them. Likely you are a good listener, so similar to communication,reach out to others, which for most empaths is a source of joy and comfort for themselves.

If you are a Learner, finding something within your job or outside work to learn more about can really energize a person with this strength. At the beginning of the pandemic and all the isolation so many joked about learning a new language or other new skill. Many don’t have the willpower to follow this through, but for a Learner a lot of satisfaction can come from picking up a new skill or knowledge.

There are so many other strengths people can have. According to the StrengthsFinder Assessment, there are 34. Which do you have? Find out what your strengths are. Whether that is by taking an assessment, self-reflection, or asking some of your peers to help you reflect. The first step is understanding what you are good at. Then look around your work, your home, or other areas of your every day and see how you can use those to enhance the situation during these uncertain times! For additional ideas to use your strengths to stand out to potential employers, read more here.