NAME IT, CLAIM IT, AIM IT!
I heard this approach to one's personal skills and abilities described as the title reads, and was immediately impressed by this approach. To give credit where credit is due, I heard it from Dr. Jennifer Selke www.jennselke.com , who adapted it from a webinar by David Rock that can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeJSXfXep4M .
It all starts with a talent, and finishes with a strength!
In general, this approach encourages people to do three things in order to know themselves and their talents and to be able to use these talents most effectively. First, you have to recognize your talent or approach yourself, and this recognition could come from strength trainings, observations of others, your own realizations, student/colleague feedback, etc. Giving your talents a specific identity and name will help you with the next step, and also lets you start thinking in a concrete way about yourself by separating this talent from the many things that make you up that are all stirred together in our minds and sometimes a bit murky because we have not strained out these talents separately and acknowledged them on their own.
Next, "claiming it," and seeing where this talent is used/applied and helpful to you is worthwhile, and always keep it positive. For example, does this talent really show up when stressed, or when you plan on using it, or when you set up the needed conditions for it to emerge? When are condition optimum for the talent to emerge and be best applied? Once you know this, you can try and set up things for the talent to be deployed in a measured and logical way, and perhaps move yourself towards using it even at times when you might not have in the past. If it is a strength, why not try and have it deployed as often as possible, even in new or unfamiliar circumstances?
Finally, "aiming" it, which I gave examples of at the end of the previous paragraph, which I define as dealing with getting the talent targeted and fully assimilated as part of your arsenal of talents to use at the right time. This could be recognizing a time when using the talent makes the most sense, and maybe even trying to stretch the talent to meet a new use, which is where things really start to be multiply-useful and have sustained yield (recall the "MUSY" theory from a few blog entries back on here?).
Your talents can become strengths, which are personally useful and highly marketable, and potential employers will LOVE that you know yourself well and can discuss the things you do well and when you do them...that'll make it easier for them to slot you in the right spot and in a position you can excel in!
Know yourself, for fun and profit!
