While strengths don’t always guarantee success, they do provide a way for you to take control of your life and the opportunity to succeed. You have unique talents, abilities, and knowledge that make you who you are. By recognizing and leveraging these strengths, you become an effective advocate for yourself in any situation. 

It is common to look to your weaknesses when you need to improve your life, but sometimes this is not the best approach. Your weaknesses are just the most obvious areas to lack. However, it is easier to overlook your strengths and miss out on the opportunity to use them. Understanding and capitalizing on what you are good at will make you more likely to make meaningful advances in all areas of your life. 

Ways to use your strengths to become your own best advocate: 

Make a List of Your Strengths

The first step is to make an honest list of your strengths. This is not a time for modesty. Be sure to include the skills, knowledge, and talents that you possess. Make a note of any relevant certificates or awards that could work in your favor. Some examples of strengths can include communication, problem-solving, creativity, organization, and public speaking. This can be determined by taking self-assessment tests or just by reflecting on your past experiences. Think about asking a friend, old co-worker, or even a family member for feedback.

Compare Your Strengths to Your Goals

In other words, do your strengths align with what you want to achieve? If not, are there ways you can adjust your goals or think outside of the box to get there? For example, maybe you are great at communication through writing but not so great at public speaking. If your goal is to be a better advocate, use platforms like Medium to get your message out. You don’t have to be a public speaker to advocate.

Balance Your Weaknesses with Your Strengths

Use your strengths to improve weaknesses that you want to and need to. Just because you have a weakness in one area doesn’t mean you have to improve it. However, if you have specific goals you want to accomplish, and your strengths don’t match up with those goals, you can use your strengths to help you. For example, to be a better public speaker, focus on developing strong content. You could practice writing out speeches and presenting them in front of a mirror or a small group of friends. Utilize the strength of writing to help you become a better public speaker.

Your strengths set you apart from your peers and make you an individual. However, just because you have them doesn’t mean you will be successful. You must know how to use them to advocate for yourself to get where you want to be.