Understanding Yourself as a Key to being a Good-fit to your Organization

It is amazing seeing the number of employees, managers and leaders who work in their organizations without understanding themselves: what they like to do, what they do best, and what adds value to their organizations. In the face of demographic crunch in most western countries and increasing competition for global talent, organizations do not just want to hire new employees but want to ensure that current employees have a clear perspective of their personal objectives and roles as it fits their organization’s visions and objectives. This is why every employee may ask these 15 questions[1]:

It is amazing how many people spend years trying to get good at what they’re bad at instead of getting better at what they’re a good at. Everybody has something that comes to them naturally. A talent, a gift, an ability to produce or do something effortlessly. If you were put on the spot to do this one thing, you would come out with high reviews.

This is not always the same as the answer to Question 1. Unless it is illegal or bad for you, do what you like. If it is also productive and useful, it ought to be your career

Your answer may guide you to a course you should take or a mentor you should work with. It may also indicate a task you should delegate. I wish I could speak  and read French could be an opportunity to take a language course, get a language mentor, in an organization setting hire a bilingual assistant or delegate language related task to another colleague or individual that does it best.

Don’t say none, think about these and write out a list of potential talents possibilities and begin to work to develop these potentials. Practice makes perfect but as you work at these you will also realise for some of these talents delegation makes better progress.

This often reflects obstacles you’ve overcome.

6.      What do others most often say are my greatest strengths? This question helps you identify skills you may not value because they seem easy to you. As well maximize skills to increase what you do.

This gives you an idea of where putting in additional effort can pay off. “I have been working at this.” Or I have being volunteering my services and getting lots of experience in this area. This is why you have to be quick to volunteer to help cover and assist people

This tells you not to waste any more time

Your answer here suggests what tasks you might want to delegate or hire out.

Your answer to this question might lead you to take a course read a book, or work with a mentor or coach.

11.   What sort of people do I  work best/worst with?

       Do you love to work with highly organized, analytical types Do creative types drive you crazy make up your own categories.

12.   What sort of organizational culture brings out the best in me ?

       It is amazing how many people won’t leave a culture for which they are hideously unsuited.

13.   What was I doing when I was happiest in my work life?  

       Could you find a way to be doing that now

14.   What are my most cherished hopes for my future work life? 

       What could keep you from realising those hopes?

Your answer here gives your manager valuable input he or she may never have thought to ask for.