Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is key to personal and professional growth. Strengths highlight what you naturally excel at, while weaknesses show areas where improvement is possible. This isn’t just about job interviews – it’s about understanding yourself better, aligning your actions with your values, and setting realistic goals.
Here’s how you can identify your strengths and weaknesses effectively:
- Reflect on your daily activities: Track what energises or drains you. This helps spot patterns in your natural abilities.
- Ask specific questions: For example, "What do I do effortlessly that others find challenging?" or "What tasks make me lose track of time?"
- Review your past achievements: Look at moments of success and identify the traits or skills that helped you excel.
- Seek feedback from others: Friends, colleagues, or mentors can offer valuable perspectives on your strengths and areas to improve.
- Use tools like SWOT analysis: Organise your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to create a clear profile.
When addressing weaknesses, avoid self-criticism. Instead, view them as challenges to work on or manage. Focus on skills that align with your values and seek professional guidance if needed. Regular self-assessment ensures you stay aligned with your goals and continue growing over time.
5-Step Process to Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
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7 Ways to Discover Your STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES – #7Ways
Preparing for Self-Assessment
Getting ready for self-assessment is like setting the stage for a meaningful performance – your preparation directly influences the results. With the right mindset and tools, you can dive into a deeper understanding of yourself.
Adopt the Right Mindset
At the core of effective self-reflection lies honesty. Kristen Webb Wright, Author and Journaling Expert at Day One, puts it perfectly:
"Honesty is at the heart of self-awareness. You can’t see yourself objectively if you’re unwilling to be honest about your emotions and actions."
However, honesty doesn’t mean being overly critical of yourself. In fact, it’s essential to balance honesty with kindness. Wright advises:
"Avoid self-criticism when you’re journalling, even in those moments when you are thinking or acting negatively. Treat yourself like a trusted friend who is worthy of kindness and acceptance."
Approach the process with a growth mindset, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than a verdict on who you are. Research even shows that focusing on strengths is linked to higher satisfaction and productivity. It’s also helpful to develop an internal locus of control – the belief that your actions, rather than external factors, shape your outcomes. Studies published in the Journal of Applied Psychology highlight that individuals with higher Core Self-Evaluation scores often experience salary growth.
Start a Reflection Journal
A reflection journal can be your go-to tool for self-discovery. Writing things down has tangible benefits – studies show that people who journal regularly are 42% more likely to achieve their goals than those who don’t.
Choose what works best for you: a physical notebook, which can help slow down your thoughts and feel more personal, or a digital journal with features like searchability and prompts. Dedicate 20–30 minutes daily in a quiet space, using prompts like "What went well today and why?". The key is consistency – writing for five minutes every day is more effective than an hour-long session once in a while.
To uncover deeper insights, jot down your spontaneous reactions – they often reveal authentic traits. Another helpful exercise is an energy audit: look back at your calendar from the past two weeks and label activities as "energising" or "draining." This can help you identify patterns in your natural strengths.
Learn the Key Concepts
To make your reflections more organised, it helps to understand three fundamental concepts: skills, personality traits, and values.
- Skills are learned abilities that improve with practice, like coding, public speaking, or active listening.
- Personality traits are stable patterns of thinking and behaviour, often captured by frameworks like the "Big Five": Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, and Openness.
- Values are your core beliefs that guide your decisions and define what matters most to you – whether it’s ambition, community, or creativity.
When assessing yourself, try reframing "strengths" and "weaknesses" as points on a spectrum, from effortless to effortful. This approach removes judgement and allows you to see your abilities more objectively. With this perspective, you’re better equipped to explore the introspection techniques ahead.
Using Introspection to Find Your Strengths
Now that you’ve set the stage, it’s time to dig deeper and uncover your strengths through introspection. This involves asking the right questions, reflecting on past achievements, and seeking feedback from others. Let’s break it down.
Answer Reflection Questions
Asking the right questions can help you spot patterns in your behaviour and energy levels. Instead of a vague "What am I good at?", focus on more specific questions that reveal deeper insights.
Start with the "Work" Test: Ask yourself, "What feels effortless to me but seems like work to others?". For example, if you find joy in organising data or planning events while others shy away from it, you may have a natural knack for those tasks.
Another helpful approach is to review your daily tasks. Look back at your calendar and mark activities as either "energising" or "draining". Patterns will emerge – perhaps client meetings leave you energised, while paperwork feels exhausting. This can highlight strengths like interpersonal skills or creativity.
Here’s a quick guide to reflection questions, grouped by focus area:
| Question Category | Specific Reflection Questions |
|---|---|
| Energy & Flow | What tasks make me lose track of time? What activities leave me energised rather than tired? |
| External Feedback | What do people often ask me for help with? |
| Comparative Edge | What do I do better than others in my circle? |
| Past Success | Which achievements make me proud? What traits helped me succeed? |
| Values & Motivation | What would I work on even without immediate rewards? |
For a real-time perspective, try setting random alarms throughout the day. When the alarm rings, pause and ask yourself: "What strength am I using right now?". This exercise helps you notice strengths you might otherwise overlook.
Review Past Achievements
Your past successes can offer clear evidence of your strengths. Often, the things you find "easy" or "natural" are the ones you dismiss – but these might be your strongest assets.
Start by identifying key moments when you delivered exceptional results. Write a detailed account of one such achievement, including the situation, your role, and the outcome. Then ask yourself: "What specific skills or traits enabled me to succeed here?".
For each success, break it down further. List the skills, knowledge, and strategies that contributed to the outcome. Rate how "effortless" it felt on a scale of 0–10. Tasks that scored high on this scale are likely tied to your core strengths. Ryan M. Niemiec, Psy.D., from VIA Institute on Character, explains:
"Our character strengths always emerge within our stories."
Also, compare your performance and learning speed to others. For instance, if you mastered public speaking faster than your peers during a training programme, that’s a sign of natural aptitude – even if you’re not yet an expert.
Look for recurring themes. Do you consistently perform well under pressure? Are you detail-oriented in every project? These patterns can help you pinpoint your strengths. Research from the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument shows that most people operate primarily from two thinking quadrants (analytical, experimental, relational, or practical), while a smaller group prefers three. Your achievements can help you identify which quadrants resonate with you.
Ask Others for Feedback
Self-reflection is powerful, but it’s easy to overlook your own strengths. That’s where external feedback comes in. According to 80,000 Hours, "Negativity bias and familiarity make us blind to our strengths, so asking others is one of the most useful ways to learn about ourselves".
One effective method is the Reflective Best Self (RBS) Method. Reach out to friends, colleagues, or mentors via email and ask them to share specific moments when they saw you at your best. Email gives them time to think and provide thoughtful responses.
Here are some example questions to ask:
- "Can you recall a time when I used a particular strength?"
- "What am I doing when I seem happiest and most energised?"
To get a balanced view, ask people from different areas of your life – work, hobbies, and family. Dr. Malachi Thompson III, a High-Performance Consultant, advises:
"Look to collate feedback from a few different qualified sources and look for common patterns and themes. Don’t stop at one source."
Once you gather responses, organise them in a simple table with three columns: the strength mentioned, the example provided, and your interpretation. Look for recurring themes. For instance, if multiple people mention your composure under pressure, it’s a strong indicator of that trait.
If you receive feedback that doesn’t resonate, resist the urge to dismiss it outright. Instead, reflect on why someone might perceive you that way. The University of Edinburgh suggests: "If you don’t agree, it is useful to think about why they might experience you in that way". This can offer valuable insights into how you’re perceived by others.
Identifying Weaknesses Without Self-Criticism
Once you’ve pinpointed your strengths, it’s equally important to take a closer look at areas where you face challenges – but without being overly critical of yourself. This process is about spotting opportunities to grow, not judging yourself harshly.
Understand Different Types of Weaknesses
Not all weaknesses are the same, and each type calls for a different approach. Broadly, weaknesses can fall into three categories:
- Skill Gaps: These are areas where you lack specific knowledge or training, like mastering a software tool, analysing data, or learning a new language. The good news? These gaps can often be filled with focused learning, practice, or guidance. For example, struggling with Excel? A short course could make a big difference.
- Behavioural Challenges: These stem from personality traits, such as impatience, disorganisation, or difficulty delegating. Managing these challenges usually involves consistent effort and habit-building. For instance, if you tend to rush through tasks, you might benefit from slowing down and creating structured routines over time.
- Energy Drains: These are tasks that leave you feeling drained or that you avoid altogether due to a lack of confidence. They often hint at deeper areas where you might need support or development.
Adrian Klaphaak, CPCC, offers a refreshing take on this:
"Weaknesses are not permanent aspects of ourselves, but instead are changeable aspects of how we do things so we can become even more excellent."
Instead of labelling yourself as "bad at something", try using neutral phrases like "effortless to effortful" or "unfamiliar to familiar". This subtle shift in language can help you see these areas as stepping stones for growth. Writing down these observations in a journal can be a great first step towards improvement.
Journal About Past Setbacks
Once you’ve recognised your weaknesses, take some time to reflect on past experiences where these challenges might have surfaced. Think about setbacks you’ve faced and use them as learning opportunities – without assigning blame to yourself. Pick a specific instance, jot down what happened, how you contributed, and the final outcome. Then ask yourself: "What was within my control, and what wasn’t?" This kind of reflection, often called a "test autopsy", helps you separate factors you can work on from those that were out of your hands.
To get a better sense of your day-to-day preferences, try rating your activities over a week using a 1-5 scale based on how much you enjoyed them. Tasks that consistently score low could indicate areas where you lack natural interest or strength. For instance, if administrative work always scores poorly, it might be time to rethink your approach or seek ways to delegate.
Be specific about the challenges you face. For example, instead of saying, "I’m bad at organisation", try framing it as, "I struggle with maintaining a digital filing system." This specificity makes it easier to identify actionable solutions.
Practice Balanced Thinking and Self-Observation
A balanced approach to self-assessment is essential. It’s easy to zero in on your flaws, especially if you’re prone to self-criticism. One way to counter this is by reframing how you think about your challenges. Joel Schwartzberg, an author and presentation coach, suggests:
"Reframe ‘weakness’ as a ‘challenge’ to emphasise that shortcomings can be improved."
It’s also worth noting that weaknesses are often situational. A trait that feels like a limitation in one context might be an asset in another. For example, being detail-oriented might slow you down in a fast-paced environment but could be a huge advantage in a role requiring precision.
To gain a more objective perspective, seek feedback from a trusted peer or "critical friend." Their insights can help you identify blind spots and reduce personal bias. Research by Tammy Barton, founder of My Budget, highlights an interesting trend: women often underestimate their strengths, while men may overestimate theirs.
Finally, align your efforts with your core values. Sometimes what seems like a weakness is actually a sign that your current role or lifestyle doesn’t match what matters most to you – like creativity or autonomy. Recognising this can help you make adjustments that feel more authentic and fulfilling.
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Creating Your Personal Strengths and Weaknesses Profile
Using the insights from your earlier reflections, you can create a detailed profile of your strengths and weaknesses. This profile serves as a practical tool for making decisions about your career, relationships, and personal growth.
Make a Strength-Weakness Map
Take what you’ve learned from journaling and self-reflection and organise it into a SWOT matrix. This framework divides your observations into four categories: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths and Weaknesses focus on internal traits, while Opportunities and Threats are external factors. For example, you might list "analytical thinking" as a strength and "difficulty delegating tasks" as a weakness. An opportunity could be "increasing demand for data analysts in India", while a threat might be "rising automation in the field."
To guide your thinking, ask yourself these questions:
- Strengths: "What do I excel at compared to others?"
- Weaknesses: "What tasks do I avoid because I lack confidence?"
- Opportunities: "What trends or technologies could benefit me?"
- Threats: "What obstacles might hinder my progress?"
When listing strengths, aim for a comprehensive approach. For weaknesses, focus on four or five key areas, maintaining a 5:1 ratio of strengths to weaknesses. This keeps the process positive and manageable. Instead of labelling traits as "good" or "bad", rate each one on a 0 to 10 scale. This method provides a more balanced view of how your abilities align with your goals.
Build a Strengths Grid and Priority List
Once your SWOT matrix is ready, take it a step further by grouping your strengths into categories like work skills (e.g., writing or data analysis), personality traits (e.g., extraversion), cognitive abilities (e.g., spatial reasoning), or character traits (e.g., persistence). For weaknesses, prioritise those that interfere with your core values. Some people find the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) helpful for this. It categorises thinking into four quadrants: analytical, experimental, relational, and practical.
Most individuals naturally favour two of these thinking styles, while fewer excel in three. Knowing your dominant styles can help you better leverage your strengths. For instance, if you’re strong in analytical and practical thinking, consider roles that combine data analysis with structured planning.
When addressing weaknesses, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Focus on areas that prevent you from living in alignment with your values. Experts call this "value-congruent" living. For example, if creativity is a core value but poor time management holds you back, improving your organisational skills could free up time for creative work. Kevin Dunne puts it succinctly:
"You’ll suffer fewer problems if you know what your weaknesses are and if you manage these weaknesses so that they don’t matter in the work you do".
Another useful exercise is an "energy audit." Look back at your calendar from the past two weeks and mark tasks as either "energising" or "draining." Focus on building skills in areas that naturally energise you, making growth feel less like a chore.
Consider Cultural Influences
Your strengths and weaknesses don’t exist in a vacuum – they’re shaped by cultural and societal contexts. What’s seen as a strength in one setting might not hold the same value in another. For instance, physical labour might be highly valued in rural areas, while urban environments might prioritise skills like digital literacy or networking.
It’s important to separate your personal values from societal expectations. Many people feel pressured to pursue careers in fields like medicine or engineering due to cultural norms, even if their strengths lie elsewhere, such as the arts or entrepreneurship. Ask yourself: "Is this truly a weakness, or does it just not align with external expectations?"
Dr. Malachi Thompson III, a high-performance consultant, explains:
"Strengths and weaknesses are highly contextual and dependent on the mix of our values, goals, interests, and situational factors".
Sometimes what feels like a weakness is simply a sign that your current role or lifestyle isn’t aligned with your core values, such as creativity, autonomy, or community. Recognising this can help you make changes that feel more authentic.
Also, be mindful of gender bias in self-assessments. Research shows that women often underestimate their abilities, while men may overestimate theirs – a phenomenon known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. To counteract this, seek feedback from trusted friends or colleagues to gain a balanced perspective. Your profile should reflect your true self, not one shaped by external pressures or biases.
Taking Action on Your Findings
Once you’ve identified your strengths, the next step is to turn that self-awareness into meaningful action. The idea is to play to your strengths while finding ways to manage your weaknesses so they don’t become obstacles.
Use Your Strengths
Put your strengths to good use by aligning them with specific goals or tasks. For instance, if "communication" is one of your strengths, you might focus on leading team meetings, mentoring colleagues, or exploring public speaking opportunities.
Here’s an example of how this can work in practice: An advertising manager, after conducting a personal SWOT analysis, realised her strengths lay in creativity and client communication. She saw an opportunity to step in for an art director on maternity leave. To address her weakness in public speaking – and a potential threat from a colleague excelling in presentations – she proposed a collaboration. She handled the creative tasks, while her colleague took care of client presentations. This teamwork allowed both to shine in their respective areas, ultimately benefiting their clients. As Mind Tools aptly states:
"You are most likely to succeed in life if you use your talents to their fullest extent."
A simple way to build awareness of how often you’re using your strengths is by setting an alarm every 30 minutes for a day. Each time it rings, pause and note which of your strengths you’ve been using. This small exercise can help you see how often you’re tapping into your abilities.
Work on Your Weaknesses
Not every weakness needs to be fixed. Sometimes, the best approach is to manage them so they don’t interfere with your work. Kevin Dunne from Mind Tools explains:
"You’ll suffer fewer problems if you know what your weaknesses are and if you manage these weaknesses so that they don’t matter in the work you do."
Managing weaknesses can mean delegating tasks or teaming up with colleagues whose strengths complement your gaps. However, if you decide to work on a weakness, treat it as a chance to grow. Focus on learnable skills, like mastering a new software or improving data analysis, rather than trying to change ingrained personality traits, which take more time and effort.
For example, if you tend to dominate conversations in meetings, commit to actively listening and letting others share their thoughts first. If public speaking makes you nervous, start small by contributing a sentence or two in team discussions instead of aiming for perfection right away.
Dr. Malachi Thompson III, a high-performance consultant, offers this advice:
"Personal development work is most effective when done in batches with time and space to rest in between."
Focus on one area of improvement at a time, give yourself room to make mistakes, and allow your brain time to adapt to new behaviours. Check your progress monthly or quarterly to track how much you’ve improved.
When tackling weaknesses, professional insight can often provide a fresh perspective.
Get Professional Guidance
While self-assessment is a great start, professional guidance can highlight blind spots you might overlook. Sometimes, you may underestimate or overestimate your skills due to cognitive biases like the Dunning-Kruger effect. Professional assessments offer an objective perspective that goes beyond personal feedback.
Tools like the VIA Character Strengths survey (available for free) or the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) provide research-backed frameworks to help you organise your self-improvement efforts. These assessments can reveal patterns you might miss on your own and help you align your strengths with roles or projects that match your natural abilities.
For more personalised support, Sudarshan Purohit (https://sudarshanpurohit.com) offers personality tests and consultations designed to help you align your strengths with your career and personal goals. These services can also address weaknesses that might be holding you back. Professional coaching provides a structured support system for long-term growth, helping you balance your strengths and weaknesses effectively. Before choosing a consultant, make sure to check their credentials, training, and track record. Don’t rely solely on testimonials – look for consistent feedback from multiple credible sources to ensure accuracy.
Conclusion
Recognising your strengths and weaknesses is a powerful step towards both personal and professional growth. By embracing self-reflection and tools like a SWOT matrix, you can gain a clearer understanding of your abilities and areas for improvement. This self-awareness helps you align your actions and decisions with your core values.
Once you’ve identified your strengths and weaknesses, the next step is to act. Use your strengths to your advantage – whether it’s through leadership roles, mentoring, or pursuing opportunities that energise you. At the same time, address your weaknesses by minimising their impact. You can do this by improving them to a basic functional level, avoiding situations that overly rely on them, or collaborating with people whose strengths balance out your limitations. The aim isn’t perfection but effective management of your abilities to create a balanced approach to growth.
G Aswathy Pillai sums it up well:
"Understanding our strengths and weaknesses isn’t just about answering a question confidently – it’s a crucial part of personal and professional development."
Keep in mind that your personal profile isn’t fixed. Life experiences and challenges will continuously shape you, so it’s important to revisit and update your SWOT matrix regularly. Reflection and feedback – whether from trusted individuals or professional assessments – can uncover blind spots and refine your self-awareness over time.
For more insights and practical advice to support your growth, check out the Sudarshan Purohit blog. It’s a great resource to guide your journey of self-improvement.
FAQs
How can I use a SWOT analysis to identify my personal strengths and weaknesses?
A SWOT analysis is a straightforward tool that helps you identify what you’re good at and where you need improvement. Start by setting a clear goal – whether it’s preparing for a big career moment or mastering a new skill. Then, draw a 2×2 grid divided into Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Dedicate around 30–45 minutes to thoughtfully fill out each section.
In the Strengths quadrant, list your standout skills, accomplishments, and traits that give you an edge. For Weaknesses, pinpoint areas where you feel less confident or could improve. If you’re unsure, seek input from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends. You could also try tools like the personality or strengths tests offered by Sudarshan Purohit for additional insights.
Once you’ve completed your SWOT analysis, focus on the most important points. Use your strengths to your advantage and tackle your weaknesses with specific actions, like signing up for a course or building new habits. Make it a habit to revisit your analysis – every 30 days works well – to monitor your progress and fine-tune your approach.
How can I work on my weaknesses without being too hard on myself?
To work on your weaknesses without being overly critical, try seeing them as opportunities for growth and development rather than shortcomings. Start by practising self-awareness – tools like a personal SWOT analysis can help you objectively pinpoint areas that need improvement. Set small, realistic goals to make steady progress, and take a moment to appreciate every milestone you achieve.
Another helpful step is to seek constructive feedback from people you trust, such as friends, mentors, or colleagues. Their insights can offer new perspectives and actionable suggestions. Keeping a reflective journal can also be a great way to document your progress, focusing on what you’ve learned instead of dwelling on mistakes. Remember, self-improvement is a journey, and treating yourself with kindness is key to making lasting changes.
How can I use my strengths to achieve my career goals?
To align your strengths with your career aspirations, begin by identifying what you excel at. Reflect on moments when you’ve felt the most confident and accomplished – these often reveal your core strengths. Tools like personality tests or self-assessment frameworks, including those offered by Sudarshan Purohit, can provide deeper insights into your abilities.
Once you’ve pinpointed your strengths, tie them to your career goals. Consider roles or projects that play to these abilities and set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to track your progress. For example, if communication is your strong suit, you might aim to lead a team presentation by 30 June 2026. While it’s important to address skill gaps through targeted learning, keep your primary focus on areas that energise you and bring out your best.
Regularly reviewing your progress is key. Dedicate time each month to evaluate how your strengths have contributed to your accomplishments and whether your career trajectory aligns with your objectives. If adjustments are needed, revisit your self-reflection and refine your approach. Guidance from Sudarshan Purohit can help you sharpen your strengths and develop actionable plans to thrive in India’s ever-evolving job market.
