Sometimes, it feels as if there’s an app for everything. Technology seems to have a solution to every problem, a way to make any situation easier. But when it comes to relationships in our family, friendships and just using our gifts to serve, there isn’t an app to do it for us. The best you’ve got is right inside you not in an app. So rather than looking for a quick trick to help, try taking a deeper look at the strengths you have already built in you and I do have a little help for that.
We all have strengths within us- whether it’s encouraging, listening, taking initiative, or anything else. Recognizing your God-given gifts can make you great at relationships with family, friends, and even co-workers on the job. Recently, I took the Clifton Strengths Finder assessment with Gallup to understand some of my own strengths and it really helped and even motivated me. Yes, it does cost $10 to take the online evaluation, but it is knowledge worth knowing! I recommend anyone interested in more deeply understanding their strengths try taking it as well!
According to Gallup, here are 3 of my strengths and how I…applied them as a productivity tool in relationships:
- Achiever: I’ve always known my personality to have a “Go, go, go” mindset. I am eager to do what it takes to work towards achieving my big dreams. Because I thrive when working hard, I can relate this to relationships by pursuing friendships even in busy seasons of life. Rather than indulge in frequent down-time, I can intentionally make lunch plans or go for walks with girlfriends. In my family, I have to be on guard to make sure I am not working through the evening when I should be relating.
- Ideation: In the workplace, I tend to be a very original thinker. I imagine new ways to accomplish goals through creativity. In relationships, this strength can aid me in planning fun activities. Rather than ask the same old questions around the dinner table, I can come up with interesting, imaginative questions to better get to know my husband and kids. I can do the same in friendships by planning unique ways to spend time with old friends and new.
- Futuristic: I love looking forward to what’s to come. I’m consistently coming up with grand ideas for the future, and specific actions I plan to take to get there. I can use this strength at work in lots of ways. With my kids this is can be a source of wisdom in helping them think beyond tomorrow. It can also drive them a bit crazy because I tend to say things like “play that out for me for four years,” or “if you do that now, and then this, and then this, you will be here in…” You get the picture. Teens don’t always enjoy building for the future–but they need to!
More than any app or resource or tool available, I’d like to remind you that you are your strongest productivity tool. Explore your own strengths and discover how you can use those qualities to build deeper relationships and productivity in your life today. This is a healthy exercise for men, too. See what my husband Mark has to say about his productivity tools for relationships.
So what are your strengths??? Go find them and be encouraged because I know you have some!
