What Are Your Strengths?

What are your strengths?  A common question asked in a job interview, but do you really understand your strengths and the value that you bring to the market?  Understanding and effectively presenting your value to the market will also distinguish what you can charge for your services.  It is important not only to understand your value, but how to increase your value in the market.  

First, how do you understand your value?  It is important to be reflective and be honest with the person in the mirror.  If we really take the time to think about it and are truly honest with ourselves, the answers are not far away.  In addition to analyzing your skills and strengths, there are several good tests that you can take that will highlight your strengths, opportunities and what to do about them.  Among my favorites is “Strengths Finder” by Tom Rath, as well as the DISC assessment.  These will help highlight your core personality strengths that relate directly to your behavior and the value you contribute. 

How do you increase that said value?  I have some basic suggestions that can help to get you started. 

1)    Enhance your professional skills.  You can advance your value by enhancing your work skills.  This can include furthering your education, taking advancement courses, receiving additional certifications or attending workshops.  The more skills that you can bring to the table and execute upon, the further you can increase the value that you bring to the workplace. 

2)    Networking.  It is not only important to network within your organization but outside as well.  Being well connected means you can call on others to help you bring more ideas and innovation to your own workplace.  I would encourage you to join local organizations and ask to speak about your company or line of work to others.  It allows you to become an expert in your line of work and your value will increase rapidly.  LinkedIn also offers a great opportunity to utilize social media to network.  If you are not utilizing this too, you should start today. 

3)    Enhance your critical skills.  Time management is an essential and critical skill.  When you learn to plan your work, prioritize and organize your days, then work efficiently from that plan, you will discover the peace of mind that comes with having a clear path to reach your goals.  Time management and efficiency are key skills that are easily recognized in the workplace.  I am sure you can think of the person in your workplace that is most efficient with their time.  This is a basic skill that will increase value.

4)    Be intentional about performing your core job responsibilities to the highest level of excellence that you are capable.  Learn by identifying the little things successful people do in your field of expertise that makes them stand out.  

5)    Be conscious about doing the little things that help to increase your brand.  Work towards being that person at work that people look to for advice and those that are well respected and admired. As small as it sounds, these are conversations that I have with myself and my children on a daily basis.  Your attitude and behavior that you exhibit every day are a choice.  The “choose your attitude” mentality really does apply and make an impression.  It is your choice if that impression in positive.

Start with today and take a good look in the mirror.  It is not always easy to work on ourselves, but as we do, we increase the value that we bring to work and home.  Not only will you have a better understanding of yourself but you will be able to market your value to potential employers.

Sara Pfrang started with Aureus Medical Group in May 2011 as a Search Consultant for the Physician division. In March 2012, she was promoted to Branch Manager for the Advanced Practice and Physician division. In her spare time, Sara and her husband, James, keep busy with three boys, Brandon (10), Jackson (5) and Jameson (3).

 800-856-6385, ext. 6073 / spfrang@aureusmedical.com

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