Psimer_A641.8.3.RB - Personal Balance Sheet

 Psimer_A641.8.3.RB - Personal Balance Sheet

My distinctive strengths (things I know I do well and strengths that others see in me).

• My kindness is a distinctive strength, because I try to extend kindness to everyone I meet.  Others not only see kindness in me, they adopt my behavior and remark about how I always make a connection with people.             
• My potential strengths (things I could do better or more often if I focused or things I do well in some situations and could begin to apply more broadly).

My potential strength is continuing my education.  A few months ago, my dream was to apply for law school.  However, having spent the last few months in school full-time, I do not think law school is in the near future.  Applying is not out of the question, but I am thinking more realistically about how I would attend a demanding three-year program while working full-time, as a single parent.

My other potential strength is learning how to implement everything I learned during the OBLD program.  I feel very confident in the material and have a strong knowledge base.  On the other hand, I learned so much (in such a short time frame), I will have to be deliberate when and how I use the leadership skills.  My strength as a leader is there, but always something I can apply more broadly.

• My enduring dispositions that support me (traits, habits, behaviors that I do not want to change and that help me to be successful).

Staying busy with a lot of activities is an enduring disposition.  For some reason, if I have down time or a light schedule, I cannot manage my time.  However, the fuller the plate, the easier it is for me to work through to-do lists and accomplish so much more.

Discuss your liabilities:

• My weaknesses (things I know I don’t do well and want to do better).

My greatest weakness is my susceptibility to anxiety.  Everyone in my family suffers from anxiety and/or depression.  I have worked very hard to manage stress, fear and stress-inducing situations.  While I completely understand some people need medications, I have avoided using medications to help me control the level of stress I experience because of anxiety.  Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I have learned how to be grounded and exert self-control.  

• Weaknesses I want to change (things I know I don’t do well and want to change).

According to the Clifton Strengths 34 Assessment (part of OBLD 690), the following categories were ranked as the areas of improvement: futuristic, consistency, deliberative, ideation and analytical.  I want to do change some of these domains, because I rely heavily upon my top strengths and I am not deliberate about any focus below my natural intuition.

• My enduring dispositions that sometimes get in my way (traits, habits, behaviors that I do not want to change and that sometimes cause me to be less effective.

While having a full plate or many competing demands drives me to manage my schedule and stay productive, I recognize I am not at 100 percent across the board.  Something inevitably gets dropped or goes to the wayside.  So, too much initiative equals lack of productivity.

Discuss how you plan to grow your weaknesses into strengths.

The most important plan to growing the weakness into strengths is starting with awareness.  Being aware and acknowledging areas of improvement allow opportunities to turn the focus towards weaknesses.   

According to Friedman (2019), “Do what Steve Jobs Did. For his 2005 commencement address, Steve Jobs shared his morning routine, which had consisted of asking himself one question every morning for the previous 30 years: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?  And whenever the answer is “no” too many days in a row I need to change something.””

“Everyday morning you have a choice to do what you want and do what makes you happy.  Yes, you’ll still have responsibilities, but you get to dictate your path.  If you’re on the wrong one, you have the power to change your direction.  Many people let months and years pass without doing a check-in on their happiness, joy and fulfillment.  Don’t let that be you. Check-in with yourself every morning.”

Similarly authors McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, (2008), describe the importance of staying attuned to our own emotional intelligence, particularly as leaders.  This unhurried experience allows for mindfulness and opportunities for resilience to ensure the pursuit of strengths over weaknesses.

Reference:

Friedman, Z. (2019). The lemonade life: How to Fuel Success, Create Happiness, and Conquer Anything. HarperCollins Leadership.

McKee, A., Boyatzis, R. & Johnston, F. (2008). Becoming a resonant leader, (8^th ed.). Harvard Business Publishing