The Power of Working in Your Strength Zone
The Difference Between Uphill and Downhill
For me, working outside my strengths feels like biking uphill through a park with rugged terrain—exhausting and challenging, yet possible with sheer grit. On the other hand, working in my strength zone is like coasting downhill with the wind at my back or riding a bike with an electric assist. It’s the difference between battling resistance and being propelled forward.
We all face moments when we’re trudging up steep hills, tackling tasks that sap our energy. But when our work aligns with our strengths, we enter a state of flow—things feel natural, progress happens with ease, and outcomes improve without the same level of strain.
Mapping Out the Ideal Day
My ideal workday is a balance of creativity, collaboration, and decision-making. About half of my day would involve brainstorming ideas, working with others to elevate those ideas, and seeing the direct impact of our efforts. I thrive when my work has tangible outcomes—when tasks are completed, and progress is visible.
On the flip side, I struggle in environments where the work feels endless and there’s no clear finish line. For me, closing loops and crossing tasks off my list isn’t just satisfying—it’s energizing.
Leveraging Strengths for Success
I believe my superpower lies in crafting strategies that empower people to succeed. This includes building realistic timelines that allow teams to thrive. Knowing your strengths—and finding opportunities to use them—is essential for growth and fulfillment.
But we’re not always handed an ideal work environment. Sometimes, we have to create it ourselves. I call this “job crafting”—the practice of shaping your role to align more closely with your strengths. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.
Introspection and Coaching
I’ve learned the value of introspection in my own career. Taking the time to understand my strengths has been a game-changer. Whether it’s through assessments, peer feedback, or conversations with mentors, this process has helped me clarify where I excel and where I can make the greatest impact.
Coaching has been another critical piece of the puzzle. A coach offers perspective and helps develop actionable strategies for growth. This partnership has helped me create the kind of work environment where I can thrive.
Lessons from Education
Reflecting on my education, I see how foundational courses in leadership, communication, and reasoning have been directly applicable to my work. In contrast, subjects like ancient history, while interesting, didn’t align with my career path.
This taught me an important lesson: focus on what’s essential and what you’ll actually use. Be intentional about your learning and growth, investing your time and energy in skills that will propel you forward.
Aligning with Your Strengths
Here’s what I’ve come to realize: when you align your work with your strengths, you achieve more with less effort. It’s about finding those “wind at your back” opportunities in your work where you can thrive.
Sometimes, this requires reflection, coaching, or even job crafting to make your current role fit better with your abilities. But the effort is worth it.
When we know ourselves—our strengths, our motivators, and our best environment—we can turn work into something that energizes us, not something that drains us. And when that happens, it’s like riding downhill with the wind at your back.
