What are you GREAT at?

One question we always ask people who come to us for coaching is:

“What are you great at?”

It usually takes a while to receive an honest answer. That’s understandable.

We’re not programmed to think of the ‘great’ things we do.

Answers vary from “I’m OK at…” “I’m not bad at…” or “People say I can do….pretty well”.

Imagine your son/daughter//niece/nephew or young child that you are invested in, answered that question with an “I dunno” type answer. I have no doubt you would pull out a long list of all the things they do that YOU consider great. You wouldn’t stand for them not acknowledging their strengths.

Yet, we do this to ourselves every day.

When we admit to being great at something, we are actually being humble.

Look at it this way - EVERYone is great at something.

For one person it could be writing, for another cooking, for someone else singing or being exceptional at understanding people’s needs or having a built in instinct for fashion or debating.

Whatever it is...we all have at least ONE thing that we excel at.

Why hide that?

OK, conditioning over the years has trained us well. “Don’t go boasting”, “No one likes a big head”, “Think you’re something special do ya?”.

To avoid these degrading comments, we learn to hide our true selves.

You should see the faces of our coachees before and after we ask the question.

First of all it’s actual surprise: “Me? Great at something?”

At the end, it’s acceptance and pride “Well, yeah - I AM bloody good at…”.

* Instead of being ashamed of your strengths, be proud of them,

* Instead of hiding them, display them.

* Instead of banishing them, use them,

You have strengths for a reason. That reason is to better yourself and those you come in contact with every day. It does US no favours when you dismiss YOU.

Now, I’m not saying you have to wear your strengths on your shirt like a badge of honour or announce them with a megaphone walking down the street. However, by acknowledging what you are great at and allowing yourself to understand and use that, you are living your purpose.

* Isn’t that what we all want? To live OUR purpose?

* Isn’t that what you want for that young child?

* You don’t want them to hide who they really are.

So...what are you great at?

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