AUTHOR

​Max Jacobsen.
Founder of TWEAK Coaching.
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Can you name five of your top strengths - those things you're good at and like doing?

A lot of people find it difficult to name even a couple of their strengths. Our brain tends to have a bias toward spotting our weaknesses and is not so efficient at identifying our strengths. And yet research shows that our strengths provide the greatest opportunity for personal or professional development.

​A strength is a strength because it has become hard-wired in our brain. Over time we've practiced a thought or behaviour so often that a neural pathway has been created, making it enjoyable, engaging, and energising to use. Our brain attaches positive emotion to our strengths so that we'll do it over and over, feel absorbed while doing it, and feel invigorated and fulfilled after we've used it.

​As a practical example, grab a pen and write your name on a piece of paper.  Then swap the pen into your other hand and write your name again. 

You probably noticed that without thinking you initially chose to write your name with your dominant hand! You didn't need to concentrate too much while you wrote, it didn't require much effort, and you were likely satisfied with the result. You may have also noticed that when you wrote with your other hand  it required greater concentration, took more effort, and you weren't as satisfied with the outcome.

This is because when we are learning a behaviour or pattern of thinking, neurones in our brain are beginning to connect to each other in a new way. This process takes energy and effort. Over time however, as we repeat the same thing over and over, the neurones involved join together to create a pathway which requires a lot less energy or effort to use, has pleasurable emotion attached to it, and is chosen by the brain without us even having to think about it. It  becomes a habit!

As we continue to use this new habit we develop greater proficiency and are rewarded with a more intense feeling of invigoration and accomplishment each time we use it. And because a lot of the hard work has been done we get a greater return on investment by developing our habits into strengths and leveraging the efficiency of those strengths to manage our weaknesses.

When we shift our focus away from fixing weakness and focus more on utilising the efficiency of our strengths to turn what's good into something great, we feel more engaged, more confident, less stressed and are able to find greater meaning and satisfaction in every area of our lives. This in turn means we are happier, healthier and more productive.
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We are often unaware of just how talented we are. We find it easier to observe the talents of others and down play what we do as just plain ordinary. We make statements to ourselves like, "Everyone can do what I do... surely". This is far from the truth. Each of us are gifted with a unique set of talents that when utilised in the right environment result in us experiencing greater happiness, motivation, achievement and success.

You can begin to identify your talents by observing your own behaviour and answering these nine questions as you do so.

1. Energy - What activities give me an energetic buzz?

2. Authenticity - When do I feel most like the "real me"?

3. Ease - What activities do I naturally excel at, mostly without even trying?

4. Attention - What things do I focus on?

5. Learning - What have I picked up quickly, almost effortlessly?

6. Motivation - What activities do I do simply for the love of doing them?

7. Voice - What causes me to have a shift in passion, energy and engagement as I speak?

8. Words and Phrases - When do I find myself saying "I love to..." or "It's just great when..."

9. Time - What activities make me loose track of time?

As we take time to observe our behaviour and answer these questions our talents begin to come out of hiding and reveal themselves. We can also use tools such as the CliftonStrengths talent survey and the FREE Character Strengths survey to help reveal talents and to give them language so that we can truely understand them.

We all have a unique set of talents that when identified, understood and utilised in our everyday lives lead us to greater levels of happiness and success. It's time to shine the light on your talents and bring them out of hiding.

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Scientific research and business analytics show that we perform at our best when we're in an environment that actively encourages us to operate in our strengths.

At TWEAK Coaching we work with clients to identifying their unique strengths, and to fine-tuning them so that they bring long term success. We work with clients to show them how to utilise the efficiency of their strengths, manage weaknesses and maximise outcomes at home, work and play.

TWEAK Coaching also works with teams, to identify the pool of strengths within the team and to help leaders and managers create an environment in which team members are motivated, engaged and effective.

Put simply. TWEAK Coaching takes what's good and makes it great!
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