Here are three more ways you can lean into your strengths at work. Each of these will help you do more tasks that you are good at while also showing your employer that you are serious about your career.
Earn Certifications
Your employer might want to see proof that you can do something and do it well before giving you new and difficult tasks, particularly if you are trying to utilize a strength you haven’t used at work before.
One of the best ways to do this is to earn a certificate in applying the strength or using the skill. Certifications are available in everything from accounting software to social media. Most of them are free or inexpensive and many don’t even require you to take a class; all you have to do is pass a test.
Many of those that require some education allow you to do so online. Some of the classes are free as well, and if they aren’t, many employers will pay for them (or reimburse you after you pass the test).
Continuing Education
Maybe you already have the education you need for your field, but another way to improve your strengths is to take continuing education courses devoted to the skills or traits you like to use.
This can mean going back to school for a short period -usually a few weeks -but it’s just as likely to mean attending a conference, watching a webinar, reading journal articles, or going to training seminars. Most of these options will require a fee but, as with earning a certificate, many employers will pay it for you or reimburse you afterward.
Partner Up
One underutilized method of using your strengths more at work is to partner up with one or more of your colleagues. To do this effectively, you have to find someone who is good at the things you’re weak at or don’t like doing, while you will be good at their weaknesses.
Then you simply exchange pieces of work that correspond to each of your strengths. You might do a coworker’s excel formulas while he writes your reports, for example. This allows you both to do more of the things you are good at and less of the things you are bad at.
One warning: Do be sure to let your managers know what you are doing and make sure they are okay with it before utilizing this strategy.