BUSINESS ADVICE
Building your professional
life around your strengths is
essential for your
success. Skills and
knowledge can be
acquired through
learning and
experience, but
talent is innate.
Be aware of your
talents and then refi ne
them by adding
knowledge and skills.
HOW TO...
make the most of
your talents
1. BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE
Many people are not fully aware
of their own strengths and are
often surprised when they
receive positive feedback about
them. Self confi dence will help
you make the most of your
talents and use them to your
best advantage.
2. WHAT ARE YOUR TALENTS?
List the core competencies
of your job. Ask yourself which
ones you enjoy the most and
fi nd easiest to do. Ask your
friends and colleagues to give
you some feedback too.
3. PLAY TO YOUR OWN
STRENGTHS
Follow the 80/20 rule. You
should spend 80% of your
time making use of your key
In the second in a series of three articles, personal
development expert Gaby Marcon, director of
Shine People and Places, off ers advice on how to
progress at work
strengths because that is how
you will get the best results.
This means you may have to
fi nd ways to delegate some of
the tasks you are not very good
at or get up to scratch in your
weak areas by setting up a
development plan for yourself.
4. DON’T WAIT TO BE
RECOGNISED
Don’t wait to be recognised
by your boss or to receive the
promotion you have been
expecting. Put yourself
forward for a new task, do
some research, talk to people.
A lot of people have great
ambitions and desires but fail
to put them into practice –
so change your attitude and
take actions.
38 | Travel Weekly | November 21 2008 www.travelweekly.co.uk
5. GET YOURSELF NOTICED
Tell others what you’re good
at. Blow your own trumpet
through trade assocations,
award schemes, conferences
and online forums in order
to make new contacts and
get noticed.
6. LEARN FROM FAILURES
Failures can often lead to
greater understanding of
what works and what doesn’t.
There is no point in criticising
yourself, but there is a point
in learning how to avoid it
happening again. Make sure
you don’t brush failure under
the carpet – take time to
understand what went wrong
and why.
7. ENJOY WHAT YOU DO
If you enjoy what you do, you
are also having fun. It is much
easier to contribute and be
noticed when you are energised
and engaged. Think about the
projects or tasks that were fun
for you and put yourself
forward for more of the same.
8. SPEAK YOUR MIND
Most people want to be liked.
All too often we are drawn into
saying yes rather than what
we really mean. Don’t be afraid
to say no, but explain why.
Get into the habit of speaking
your mind and having your
own opinions. Express them
calmly and you will stand out
from the crowd.
8For practical advice
and more ‘How to’
features go to
www.travelweekly.
co.uk/howto
PICTURES: ISTOCK
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