I’ve read and appreciated this suggestion from Peter Drucker enough times that I’m finally going to apply it.
Here’s the idea:
You can learn to identify your strengths by using feedback analysis. This is a simple process in which you write down every one of your key decisions and key actions along with the results that you expect them to achieve. Nine to twelve months later, check the actual results against expectations.
After two to three years of use, you will know your strengths by tracking those decisions and actions where actual results fell in line with or exceeded expectations.
Once you have identified your strengths through feedback analysis, you can use this knowledge to improve performance and results in five ways:
1) Concentrate on your strengths
Peter Drucker – The Daily Drucker
2) Work on improving strengths. You may need to learn new knowledge or update old.
3) Recognize disabling habits. The worst and most common one is arrogance. Oftentimes poor performance stems from an unwillingness to pursue knowledge outside one’s own narrow specialty.
4) Remedy bad habits and bad manners. All too often, a bad habit such as procrastination or bad manners makes cooperation and teamwork all but impossible.
5) Figure out what you should not do.