Identify Your Unique Skills (Management Tip #17-040917)

All of us have at least one disruptive skill—an ability that sets us apart from others. You may have been honing yours for years, or you may be so innately good at it that you don’t even notice it. Here are three ways to identify your unique skill:

• Watch your reflexes. You may instinctively do what you’re good at without even noticing. Ask yourself: when I feel most successful or invigorated, what am I doing?

• Look for confluences. A distinct skill may not be one thing, but an unusual intersection of ordinary proficiencies.

• Listen to compliments. Peers, managers, direct reports, and even spouses are often good mirrors of your inherent strengths. Don’t habitually dismiss compliments, but mine them to discover your unique skills.

Become a Thought Leader

Everyone has a personal brand these days. But if you want to move ahead, you need to be more than the “IT guy who understands the Technology.” Distinguish yourself as someone with a truly unique perspective respected inside and outside the organization. Here are three ways to do that:

• Build your online presence. The Internet is a perfect place to start showcasing your knowledge. Post comments on blogs, write your own posts, and connect with other bloggers to create a network.

• Win some awards. Identify awards that matter in your industry and don’t be afraid to nominate yourself, or convince colleagues to do it for you.

• Flaunt well-thought-of affiliations. Your associations aren’t always in your control, but if you have a degree from a top school or testimonials from important people, display them prominently. Credibility by proxy is valuable.

Focus on Your Distinctive Skills

When selling your-self in the talent marketplace, focusing on hard-won strengths required for the job in question can be all too easy. These skills are often the ones that many other people have too. Your most outstanding talent is probably something you do without even thinking. Ask colleagues or friends what strengths you might be undervaluing. Lead with these exceptional skills instead. Articulate to prospective employers, or to the boss who’s considering your raise, your unique value proposition as an employee. Employers don’t just want someone slightly better than everyone else; they are looking for someone with a truly distinctive skill set.

Remove Your Mental Barriers

If you have your sights set on the top job at your company, organizational barriers are likely standing in your way. However, the mental barriers holding you back may be just as strong, if not stronger. To get what you want, you need to ask for it and, in some cases, push for it. Never assume that you are going to be treated fairly or justly rewarded. You must define what you want and present the case for why the company should give it to you. Organizational bias is real, but don’t let your own timidity or fear of self-promotion make you lose out on what you deserve.

Sell Yourself—the Right Way

Are whispers about layoffs in your company growing louder? If so, advertising the value you deliver to the organization is more important than ever. But selling yourself is a delicate art. Overdo it or take the wrong approach and you may look like a grand-stander.

Sell yourself effectively by describing your contributions to your boss and linking them to important organizational goals. For example, “I put a lot of advance work into that new customer database, so it’s really rewarding to see it pay off in greater customer loyalty and profits,” or “I worked hard to organize the launch meeting because I really want to see us start major projects off on the right foot.”