There are many situations when we want to highlight our strengths.
Performance reviews.
Job interviews.
LinkedIn profiles.
Resumes.
Just to name a few.
The challenge we often face is how to highlight our uniqueness without bragging.
My Perspective
I’ve come across several strategies for striking the right balance.
Hopefully, there are a few below that feel right for you:
Use the phrase “People tell me….” – This indicates it’s strengths you hear from others.
Express Gratitude – Using “I’m thankful for / grateful I’ve been able to….” Shows appreciation.
Don’t Pretend it was Easy – Acknowledge when you worked hard on something and that you leveraged your strengths along the way.
Acknowledge Others – Most of our work is done as a team. Noting the role others played and how your unique strengths made the project a success highlights your contribution.
Provide Examples – Noting a time when your strengths helped move a project forward.
STAR Method – In an interview specifically, you can use this method to highlight the Situation (the context of the project), Task (the problem or challenge), Actions (your personal actions toward the situation and task), and Results (outcomes of the actions).
Lean on an Assessment – You could use an assessment like Clifton Strengths or DISC to highlight the tendencies of how you work.
Your Turn
How do you highlight your strengths?
Have you used any of the techniques mentioned above?
As you look toward your next performance review or job interview, which ideas might work for you?