How can you identify your unique strengths and skills for personal branding?

Whoever you are today, there is a story that only you know, my friend. If people see you as a hardworking person, they might think you are a workaholic, but in reality, you have grown up in a not-so-financially stable home. You have been a victim of the curse of generational poverty but have decided to break this curse and start a new generation of wealth altogether. If you don't smoke or drink, people might say you are boring. In reality, you have battled addictions and chosen to rise up past your addictions because you couldn't let substances dictate your decisions any further. Incorporate your struggles and how you rise up in your personal brand, and you will not only build a brand but also become an inspiration for many.

Your brand is expressed and lives through your story but the essence of your path and unicity are your core values . Clearly Identifying the values we try to incarnate on a daily base is the pillar of owning our brand and living our true self . A personal brand is first & foremost the way we relate and share values authentically on a daily base . Once we clarify and own them through our actions , we are on the path of living and being ourselves. Indeed a brand is how we behave, talk , work , and comes from inside to show up outside and tell the world this is me . I own myself and dare to be and exist in front of the world.

The start of all knowledge begins with self-knowledge. Your Ikigai should help you in visualising your personal story as it combines what you know, you love and how you can make a living!

Being objective about oneself is one of the toughest task because as human beings we are wired to evaluate another person or situation or seek external validation. Having said that, I think a good starting point would be to have a long hard think on one's personal beliefs and professional journey. Afterall it is our personal beliefs, value system and drive which provides solutions in any given situation and when we reflect on them, we will be able to see what we do differently in any situation. This would help arriving at our unique attribute or quality.

The way I see the industry growing from traditional or conventional automation solutions to using IoT and AI-ML solutions for more data driven approach is very satisfying. The use of it not only for profitability but also to ensure safety of personnel and resources while reducing the environmental impact. That’s heartening effort by the industry. Of course there are many challenges in this and the industry personnel also need to go through a maturity curve but the way it’s happening right now is all the development threads will be tied in the end to accomplish a common goal.

Asking for feedback is absolutely critical. So many people fall into the trap at thinking they’re good at something when they are not. If you have a mentor (which you should), start by asking them. Find people who are going to give you objective fact and tell you the truth you may not want to hear. Sometimes you need to be brave and face the music.

Feedback, feedback and more feedback! Ask what people see as your strengths, but also ask about areas that you may already identify as strengths/weaknesses. Ask about times that you've been helpful, or delivered something really innovate - people will remember examples that you've forgotten all about or you wouldn't necessarily think of as significant yourself.

Asking for feedback is like asking someone to hold up a mirror for you. Sometimes our buddies, family, or coworkers see sparkles in us we might not see ourselves! Like asking them, "Hey, what three words pop in your head when you think of me?" or "What do you think I’m really good at?" Their words might surprise us, spotlighting awesome things we didn’t realize shone brightly. Also, knowing our not-so-sparkly parts helps us grow. It's like having a treasure map, where feedback points us towards discovering our own hidden gems and polishing them up!

Feedback is a gift BUT can be hard to take at times. Ask for constructive, specific feedback from those that matter. Ask open questions such: - How would you describe my strengths? - What is unique about my personality? - What do you think I could be the best in the world at? Try to find the patterns when receiving feedback from your truth tellers.

The best thing you can do professionally is ask and embrace the feedback. If you run a business, ask your customers what improvements can be made. If you are an employee, ask your manager what you lack and work on those. Implement them as soon as you can.

Understanding of Myers-Briggs types has helped me navigate many domains. Some argue that it's based on pseudoscience. That's fine. If it's not useful to them, they shouldn't use it. But if you find a tool that's especially predictive FOR YOU, you'd be a fool to ignore it.

Personality tests are a great way to better understand not just your own personal brand style but also that of the people you want to attract most to your work. MBTI, Enneagram, DISC, and similar tools will help you understand key stressors and points of resistance for different personality types that you'll work with, whether that's someone championing your career or a client. By studying all types and not just your own, you'll be able to spot patterns and hold more influence with others when going for new opportunities.

Gallups Clifton Strengths is a great way to assess your top 5 strengths and understand in more detail what these mean. You can use these strengths to position yourself, this is your commercial value after all. Make sure you trade on it.

I personally love the Myers-Briggs/Enneagram tests as it gives you a great baseline for something to go off of. I personally think if you're really stuck and don't have a mentor to bounce things off of that these types of assessments are a great way to start the process of figuring yourself out.

🔍 Identify Your Strengths and Skills Effectively: Self-Reflection: Take some time for introspection. What do you love doing? What are you naturally good at? Reflecting on your passions can guide your career path. Professional Assessments: Utilise tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsFinder, Career Values Scale, or Skills Profiler. These tests offer valuable insights into your personality, interests, values, and abilities. Match Strengths with Careers: Understand your natural preferences and motivations. These assessments aid in finding roles aligning with your strengths and skills, paving the way for a fulfilling career journey. Continuous self-discovery is the key to unlocking your true potential! 💪✨

A good friend of mine once said to write down the small wins in a little book. Things like nice comments, successes you've had, etc. Then, whenever you need it, you can look back over those at any time. Now you've got endless lists of wins that you can talk about and show to people without sounding showy-offy!

Journalling your achievements is a great way to validate your strengths and skills. It gives you evidence that you are GOOD enough when you have a rough period or your confidence takes a knock.

Analyzing achievements is a bit like going on a treasure hunt through our own past wins. Imagine digging through your memory chest and pulling out those shining moments you’re super proud of or that made you ridiculously happy. It's like asking, "What did I do that was so cool back then?" and "How did I pull that off?" Looking at our own epic moments, figuring out the skills we used, and remembering the hurdles we hopped over, all help us spot our own secret recipe for success.

Ask yourself: What achievements am I most proud of? What tasks do I find both enjoyable and effortless? The answers often point directly to your unique strengths.

Think of comparing and contrasting like being at a super cool costume party. Everyone shows up with their unique outfits, bringing something different to the table. You're not trying to judge whose costume is best but observing the awesome way your pirate outfit stands out in a sea of superheroes. It's about noticing that while many might swing capes, your parrot and eye-patch offer a different kind of fun and adventure that certain party-goers might be searching for! Identifying your unique 'costume' helps you become the go-to pirate in a world that sometimes needs less saving and more discovering.

It is easy to full into the trap of getting distracted and negatively affected by comparisons. Look after your mental health. Remove people in your feed that upset your balance. Instead, focus on the people you admire and be inspired by them, but understand no one is perfect. Most people have a unique gift, the challenge is finding out what this is. Your strengths, passions and purpose should be the winning combination that holds the answers to a more fulfilling life.

Recognizing Uniqueness: Absolutely, comparing and contrasting can be a powerful tool for self-discovery. It's not about imitation, but understanding what sets us apart. Identifying Gaps: By evaluating what others lack, we can find our niche. What problems can we uniquely solve? It's about filling those gaps effectively. Showcasing Talents: Understanding our qualities and talents helps us stand out. These unique traits are our selling points, differentiating us from the competition. Targeting Specific Audiences: Identifying the right audience is crucial. By recognising the markets and niches we serve best, we can tailor our approach, making us a valuable solution.

A good way to differentiate yourself is to talk about your contrarian viewpoint. Ask yourself: - Is there any unique or controversial viewpoints you hold on industry-related topics? - How does your perspective challenges conventional thinking and brings innovation?

A sustainable (personal) brand is anchored in values: the bedrock upon which our achievements, skills and stories rest - when we are intentional and principled. Consider sharing a story with someone about a moment when you were in flow, any moment. Be as descriptive about the moment as possible, then ask your audience to write down the values they hear within the story. That is pretty close to the values-based brand that truly fits you. Some brands come and go. Build yours to last!

To identify your unique skills you need to perform some self-tests like... Self-reflection, Assessing strengths, Skills inventory, Considering unique experiences, Seeking feedback, Aligning with values, And conducting market research It's an ongoing process that requires continuous refinement.

Identifying your unique strengths starts with introspection. Reflect on what you naturally excel at and enjoy doing. These are activities where you lose track of time, indicating innate talent and passion. Acknowledge these strengths and invest time and energy in developing them. Often, strengths that seem unrelated can become your unique selling point, setting you apart in a crowded market. For example, storytelling combined with technical expertise can make complex concepts accessible to a broader audience. Embrace your eclectic mix of skills; they make your brand unique and valuable. By aligning your personal brand with these strengths, you not only stand out but also find fulfillment, as you’re leveraging what comes naturally to you.

Personal branding is not a one-time task but a continuous journey. Regularly seek feedback and be willing to adapt your brand as you grow professionally. Identifying your unique skills isn't just about introspection. It's also about understanding how these skills solve problems or fulfill needs within your industry.