What makes you talented

By Noor Khan Nov 1, Read More. Subscribe to our Blog. Filter by Category Show All. Talent Acquisition. Future of Work. Talent Management.

Diversity and Inclusion. Candidate Experience. Predictive Hiring. Company Culture. Plum Tips. HiPo Programs. Job Seeker. What are Talents? By Emily Lambert November 8, Communication Conveying ideas effectively and identifying messages others are attempting to convey. Conflict Resolution Bringing others together to resolve conflict and reconcile differences.

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But here I am today, with millions of views on my content. Much like many other people, discovering what your talents are can be extremely hard to figure out. Because of that, I sought out expert advice on how to not only identify, but embrace and hone in on your natural talents.

I reached out to Doug Wilks, a talent investigator who founded StrengthsLauncher. Were you highly competitive as a 9-year-old? Maybe you loved soccer and couldn't wait for recess every day. You lived for it. You cherished that moment you could run out to the practice field and start competing. Or, maybe you enjoyed working on big, competitive, team-oriented projects?

Your friends loved it when you were in their group. You had a knack for nudging the whole team's grade from B- to A. You relished these opportunities.

It was thrilling. You may still be highly competitive, but now you're competing to win new business for your start-up. You may still love complex, strategic projects, but now you do it for an international consulting firm. Why do we make certain choices and enjoy certain activities? Why are we better at some things than others? If you've ever taken the StrengthsFinder 2. Understanding your unique talents gives you answers to these questions.

Your unique talents show you why you make certain choices, enjoy certain activities and are better at some things than others. In fact, there's only a 1-in million chance you have the same top 5 talent themes as another person! So, understand that what thrilled you as a grade school student and what thrills you as an adult are actually very similar.

You're just using those same talent themes--Competition and Strategic--in different environments. Those grade school memories are powerful stories that reveal what your talents are and how to use them.

Imagine this: It's AM Saturday morning. Keep in mind that no one is created the same as any other person and whatever skills one person possesses are theirs alone. There's simply no comparison between people who were born with these amazing skills to people who have to spend years to reach that level. This article instead will be geared toward how to accept other talented people and how to stay motivated and inspired to keep pursuing your end goal.

This one can be a little tricky as inside each person is that little tiny voice that likes to whisper, "You're not good enough and you never will be. However, the trick is to learn that some people were just born that way, and there's nothing you can do to change that fact. So don't blame yourself for not being able to get something perfect the first time that you try it.

It's a learning experience. The two things that will separate people are motivation and persistence. One of the hardest aspects of entering your field is learning how to compare yourself to other people. I did end up being in the same class with the kind of people whose work was on a different level. They may or may not have worked hard for that talent, but the way that I learned not to compare myself to them was to realize that everyone is on their own separate journey. Everyone starts life at a different point.

Everyone learns different things at different points in their lives. Just because you are at the beginning of your journey whether it is an art career, your fitness level, or your love life , everyone has to learn what they need to in their own way. So, it makes no sense to compare yourself to someone that is further ahead or behind where you are. Besides, being talented is also hard though! Imagine feeling resented for something that you're naturally gifted at. I've always considered this part of myself a double-edged sword.

In some aspects, it's the best gift, but in others, it's a sure-shot way to drive me into the ground.