Would it surprise you to learn that most people have only imperfect knowledge of their own strengths? Most of us have a rough idea about what we do well, because our obvious strengths are often the basis for earning our living. However, that knowledge is limited.
As a group, entrepreneurs may have a better handle on their strengths than most people. Knowing that many of my readers are business owners, my educated guess is that you recognize some of the following entrepreneurial traits in yourself:
- Self-confidence
- Ability to learn from others
- Self-motivation
- Determination
- Decisiveness
- Willingness to take risks
Many business owners would say they possess all of the above characteristics. That’s good because they may be the most important strengths for an entrepreneur to possess. Of course, the list above is far from complete. Most entrepreneurs are keenly aware of some of their strengths – those that help them succeed day to day.
Here’s another list of skills that would come in handy for any business owner:
- Being innovative/inventive
- Analytical skills – capable of researching and analyzing various aspects of business like product development, production, marketing and sales
- Focus on financial results, i.e., the bottom line
- Ability to delegate authority effectively
- Organizational skills – capable of identifying what needs to be accomplished in each aspect of business and matching employees’ skills to the tasks at hand
Is it as easy to recognize from this list the skills that you possess? Typically, this list poses more uncertainty for people. For example, some people have the capacity to be analytical, but they would rather not have to use those skills at work if someone else can provide them. Others see themselves as innovative. However, in reality they may not rank high when tested for those skills.
Assessing Strengths
There are tools available to help determine your strengths. The Clifton StrengthsFinder® is a popular online assessment that draws on more than 50 years of Dr. Donald O. Clifton’s lifelong work. Clifton was recognized with an American Psychological Association Presidential Commendation as the father of strengths-based psychology. The assessment is designed to help individuals identify, understand, and maximize their strengths. As a manager, it can be used to help you understand the strengths of your employees.
The importance of knowing your strengths, or those of your employees, is to help people focus on the things they do best every workday. This notion directly contradicts what most of us are taught from childhood – that we should focus on minimizing our weaknesses. Research by Clifton, and others, suggests we accomplish far more by maximizing our strengths and developing them to their fullest.
StrengthsFinder provides numerous strategies for making the most a person’s unique strengths. Its in-depth approach to strength analysis explores the nuances of what makes a person unique. The program uses more than 5,000 personalized strengths insights. Two people with similar strengths get very different plans to improve themselves. The program will likely change the way you look at yourself, or your employees.
If you find that financial analysis is not one of your strengths, let us help! Contact Trillium Financial today for a CFO-level roadmap for your business.