A Manager's Guide to Employee Strengths

Look for repeated patterns in performance.

Give employees opportunities to describe what they believe they do well.

Consider:

• projects
• outcomes
• feedback
• problem-solving
• initiative
• collaboration

Someone may perform a task well simply because they have done it repeatedly.

That is not necessarily evidence of a broader strength.

Ask:

"Where else could this capability be useful?"

Give employees controlled opportunities to demonstrate capabilities outside their normal responsibilities.

A natural capacity becomes more valuable when combined with knowledge, skills and experience.

A strength can become counterproductive when used without judgment.

The objective is not merely self-discovery.

It is meaningful contribution.