While visiting a friend in Santa Monica last year, I had to maneuver into parallel parking spaces apparently made for Matchbox cars. Each time, I took my trusty rental car to the mini-place on the first try. Now you must understand that I once backed my car out of the garage with the front door still open. (Cost: $2800. Explaining that to my very focused and responsible husband: priceless) Let’s just say I have a tortuous relationship with some of Detroit’s best produce.
My friend was quite impressed with my parallel parking progress. As she confidently placed that sucker in place each time, I looked at her and said “yeah, I swing at parallel parking.” If a person can really turn green with envy, I’m pretty sure I saw it. Okay, not really.
There really is a point to this seemingly pointless story. Even when the skill or ability is minor or unrelated to one’s job or career, we balk when it comes to talking about what we’re good at. I was recently talking to administrators at a university in the South. They were talking about how difficult it is to get students to talk about their abilities and achievements, even at the most basic level because so many of them have been taught that it is “proud” to do so. I understand. We were taught not to brag, not to talk about ourselves, to let our good work speak for us. Let me challenge that.
From a career standpoint, our skills and achievements are our calling cards, our price of admission to be considered for the next big thing.
- You must be aware of what you are good at, even great at.
- You should feel comfortable sharing that with others.
If not you, who will? Your mom, your manager, your colleagues? The answer is nobody. No one will care about your career more than you do, or you should. If you haven’t been living in a cave for the past few years, you know your organization or employer wants you around until they don’t. You must adopt the same attitude, so that you are ready to go when it is time to go, so that you can always be one step ahead in your career, so that you are always ready with your “next step plan”. If that makes sense to you, you should know that being able and willing to articulate exactly what you’re good at is non-negotiable if you plan to land in the right place for you.
Not sure what you’re good at? Read your past reviews, ask people you’ve worked closely with what they see as your best skills, what they value most about you. Pay attention to times when you really feel effective and at your own pace at work, even if it’s just for a 15-minute period. When does work not feel like work?
I’m not advocating walking around declaring your general awesomeness to everyone in your path. Instead, ask yourself what your strengths are and find ways to show them off and talk about them when appropriate. Always be prepared to answer the question “what are your strengths?” and the dreaded “tell me about yourself” question. Those questions aren’t just for job seekers.
Accept compliments. Say thank you, instead of downplaying them, which can be seen as rejecting the comments. Practice giving compliments too.
Start small. If you make an amazing chocolate cake, say so and volunteer to bring it to the next office potluck. Raise your hand when a group you’re in is looking for someone to do what you’re good at. Don’t be afraid to say “I’ve had some success with that and I’d like to take it on.”
Try it! Let me know how it goes.
ps Have I told you how good I am at parallel parking?
