I was speaking with a client the other day about how to answer that dreaded interview question, "Name three weaknesses that you have." In my opinion it is a pointless question, because most people have been coached to answer that question by highlighting a strength as a weakness. (e.g.,"I just can't stop myself from compulsively proof-reading my correspondence three times before sending it out," or some other cleverly contrived response).
But, when it comes to reinventing your career, naming and claiming your weaknesses, is anything but pointless. Knowing what you don't like and don't do well is equally important as being able to identify your strengths.
The problem is that most of us don't want to spend time thinking about our weaknesses. It makes us feel uncomfortable.
So we avoid the issue and muddle along.
But what if you could frame your weaknesses in a new way? While we tend to think about a weakness as something we don't do well, I strongly prefer this definition I found while reading Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham:
"The proper definition of a weakness is 'an activity that makes you feel weak.' It doesn't matter how stellar your performance is, if the activity drains you, bores you, or makes you lose your concentration, it is a weakness. The thought of learning how to do it is singularly unexciting, wile the prospect of doing a great deal more of it makes you choke with panic. It's a weakness. It weakens you."
Doesn't this make a whole lot more sense?
Keeping this expanded definition in mind, I decided to make a list of my own weaknesses and was amazed at how much easier it was for me to identify my "weak" spots, once I removed the "this must mean I am not good at this" factor. I won't bore you with the whole list (although I am sure my husband would love to critique it) but here is a sample of my writing:
- All things mechanical: This past weekend, my husband and I went shopping for a plasma TV. Normally, I love to shop, but this time around I couldn't wait for it to be over. I mean, who cares about 720 vs. 1080, the number of audio inputs or the ratio of black to color lines? I know I'll be thrilled once the TV is set-up, but the technical details involved with this purchase bore me to tears. (Disclosure: When it comes to mechanical things, even really simple things, I am not just bored, but also remarkably inept, a lethal combination I assure you.)
- Investments: While I throughly enjoy the fruits of our investments, talk of stock margins and Morningstar ratings makes my eyes glaze over. I intellectually appreciate that I should be more engaged and interested, but I am not. It just isn't my cup of tea.
Identifying your weaknesses, and eliminating them from your "must-use" consideration, empowers you to focus on careers that play to your natural gifts and enhance your life.
Remember, YOU -- not your friends, spouse or co-workers -- are the best judge of the activities that make you feel strong, engaged and vibrant (your strengths) and those that make you feel weak, bored and marginalized (your weaknesses).
Honor that insight. Eliminate (or at least reduce) those activities that drain you, focus on your strengths and you'll quickly be on the road from weak to wow!
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