Why most of us aren’t playing to our superpowers
May 15, 2018
By Brian Maynor
We all have superpowers, but very of us use them to our best advantage.
While some people struggle with identifying their strengths, most of us know what they are yet still choose not to play to them. The main reason we dismiss our superpowers is because we undervalue them.
When we’re good at something we do it effortlessly, instinctively and with a degree of automation, much like breathing, and that causes us to underestimate their true value and worth. We have this ingrained idea that because something is easy or comes naturally then it isn’t as valuable as something we find challenging, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Here are a few self-assessment questions to help identify our strengths so we can stop dismissing them and start embracing them:
1. What exasperates us? When we’re good at something we tend to get frustrated when others aren’t. So we need to pay attention the next time someone irritates us and ask ourselves, “Why we’re feeling that way?” The answer will likely be a skill we excel at that the other person doesn’t.
2. What compliments do we tend to dismiss? How often do we say, “It was nothing?” Chances are we say it more often than we realize, and we do that when something doesn’t take much effort on our part. However, that doesn’t mean it is valued any less by someone else. Not only should we be aware of these moments because they highlight our natural abilities, but we should also stop downplaying them. Otherwise, how can we expect others to value our abilities when we don’t value them ourselves?
3. What are we thinking about when we don’t have anything else to think about? The reason we can’t stop thinking about something is because it’s important to us. And when something is important to us, not only do we make a personal stake in it, chances are it is something we are good at and want to continue developing. With that being the case, it’s a good idea to track our thoughts, especially if we keep coming back to them again and again.
Playing to our strengths may seem like a no-brainer, but few people ever do it. Brett Gerstenblatt, VP and Creative Director at CVS, wants to help ensure his team does and wear their strengths like a badge, so he makes them take a personality test and post their top five strengths on their desks. The idea isn’t so much to remind others of our strengths, but to remind us, so they can use them.
I am always curious to hear from you. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected].
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
