{"id":1510,"date":"2019-02-05T21:07:37","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T21:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/?p=1510"},"modified":"2021-09-12T21:53:16","modified_gmt":"2021-09-12T21:53:16","slug":"uncovering-your-secret-powers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/uncovering-your-secret-powers\/","title":{"rendered":"Uncovering your Secret Powers in 2019 – Strengths Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]\n\n

New Year, New You! Did you start January with a roar? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Every year, January feels like a new beginning. Once Christmas and New Year is out of the way, January brings the opportunity to take positive steps towards the life we want to lead.<\/p>\n

We fill our brand-new moleskin journals and lifestyle apps with New Year\u2019s Resolutions. We make plans to reinvent ourselves, to become healthier and happier. We make goals to turn our lives around.<\/p>\n

At work, it\u2019s a similar story. Team leaders and managers use January to set \u201cexciting\u201d goals for the next twelve months. Employees are encouraged to take up new challenges, hit new targets, work on new skills and overcome weaknesses.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s February \u2013 Still Motivated and Resolved?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The problem is, that by the time we reach the middle of February, the early motivation for our new year\u2019s resolutions has begun to wane.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are those who manage to maintain the January momentum well into spring. And if you are still keeping up with your resolutions, well done! Please, do share your secret.<\/p>\n

For most of us, though, our resolutions lasted a few weeks at best, and at worst, barely got going in the first place.<\/p>\n

If January bursts upon us with hope and opportunity, February brings a return to equilibrium. At work, employees return slowly to default behaviours. Those lagging behind, fall back further, and those who are unhappy, begin looking for the perfect new job and the real change they yearn for.<\/p>\n

Why does this happen every year?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Achievable Goals and Realistic Expectations<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The problem is related to our very human habit of creating unrealistic expectations and setting unachievable goals. Whether it\u2019s personal targets or organisational expectations, we often set challenges for ourselves we have no chance of achieving.<\/p>\n

We start with the right motivations \u2013\u00a0the desire to take up new habits and behaviours is heartfelt. But, making big changes in just one month and maintaining them for an entire year is a super power few of us possess.<\/p>\n

In a team situation, setting unrealistic expectations is counterproductive. Particularly if the expectation is about \u201covercoming weaknesses\u201d or developing skills people simply don\u2019t possess.<\/p>\n

The result is, failure and disappointment. Which can lead to despondency, disconnection and disengagement from the team and even from the organisation.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Self-Awareness and Strengths<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Understanding why this happens, is about understanding true self-awareness and the role our unique strengths have in motivation.<\/p>\n

Everyone has strengths. What might be called our \u201csecret powers\u201d. These are the unique strengths, talents, knowledge and skills that help us to do what we do best every day, whether at work or in our personal lives.<\/p>\n

Strengths are not necessarily related to skills. You might be good at something, but not necessarily feel energised by doing it. Real strengths are the key to your motivation. Your strengths are what keep you engaged in the activities you undertake, both in your personal life and at work.<\/p>\n

If you are self-aware enough to uncover your secret powers<\/em>, to know your strengths and motivations, you are on the path to understanding how best they can serve you.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Uncover Your Secret Powers!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A great first step to developing a self-awareness and understanding your and other\u2019s motivations is to explore your own strengths. The Strengthscope\u00ae questionnaire we utilise at Co-Creation, delivers exceptionally accurate results on strengths and motivations. Engaging with our self-awareness process allows you to fully understand what energises you and how you resource yourself for your daily activities.<\/p>\n

A simple starting point is to think through these three questions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What activities give you most energy?<\/li>\n
  2. When was the last time you were \u201cin flow\u201d and loving what you were doing?<\/li>\n
  3. What drains your energy?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Thinking through these, allow syou to begin exploring where you get your greatest energy, and what drains your energy and motivation away.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Setting Goals that Compliment Strengths<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Spending time understanding your motivations and strengths puts you in a much better place when it comes to goal setting.<\/p>\n

    Your secret powers are the unique qualities that bring you the most energy. So, it makes sense to think through how best you can utilise them in your goals.<\/p>\n

    For personal goals this might involve:<\/p>\n