Know Thyself: 4 Ways to Eliminate Your Weaknesses

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment” Lao Tzu

One of the upsides of being a Behavioural Profiling Consultant is not only do I learn about how others tick, I learn lots about myself. I have learnt why I do things, what I’m good at and not so good at, and, more importantly, what I need to do to improve in those areas where I feel I need to develop.

I now understand why I’m so tired when doing particular tasks (and it’s not because I had a late night!) and why, at other times, I’m in the groove and kicking goals left, right and centre.

So I thought I would share with you a few tips on how to develop yourself in areas you feel you’re not so strong in but would like to be. I’m a spontaneous, gut-feel, big-picture person and at times have trouble with detailed work, so let’s start there.

To be more detailed:

• Read philosophy, history and other books explaining logical processes
• Collect all possible data relating to every task you do and every decision you need to make
• When ready to make a decision, delay making it till tomorrow
• Go back in time and analyse why things happened

To be more outgoing:

• Do something new at least once a week, like go to a totally new social environment, or wear something colourful and new
• Regularly change things in your office
• Make an effort to call at least three new people every day
• In large social gatherings, force yourself to start discussions of new topics and try to discuss with every participant
• Make your daily habits include as little routines as possible
• Make sure people, no matter where you are, notice you
• Ask your colleagues to give you topics of which you need to make a 5 minute speech

To be more forthright:

• Continuously learn new and practical ways of doing things. Select anything you like as long as it is useful and goal-oriented. It doesn’t matter if you have no idea how you should do it.
• In meetings, focus on agenda and meeting goals. Make yourself a rule that you never leave a meeting room without an action plan for you and the rest of the participants. The plan needs to be concrete and include a schedule.
• Seek out situations when you can exercise these new ways of doing things – do not just plan – do.
• Observe the positive side of forthright people and repeat what they did
• Ask for feedback from these people.

To be more calm and steady:

• Keep a diary and make notes at the end of each day of what happened
• After each meeting, review all the material & topics covered
• Spend long periods in meetings without participating, just listening
• Try to learn at least two possible risk factors in every new idea
• Try not to show excitement when you get excited about something
• Always come up with at least one optional plan
• Make an effort to do things as others ask you to do them

I’m a great one to say, focus on your strengths and outsource your weaknesses where possible. You might need to adjust your management style depending on the situation. But sometimes you just need to improve your skills in particular areas – either to do the work yourself or understand how other people tick.

Good luck and let me know how you go.

Featured Photo Credit: Kris Krug via Compfight cc

Glenise Anderson
Glenise is the Chief Confidence Chick at Self Confident Women, a personal development company helping women around the world create a better life. She is also the Director of SR Group Pty Ltd, a training and development consultancy assisting corporate companies with coaching, training and technical writing.

Download the 8 Fail Safe Tips to Self Confidence FREE from her website at www.selfconfidentwomen.com.au