The Secret to Growth? Leaning Into What You Do Best

Written by: Jessica (she/her)

2 min read | Published: September 15, 2026

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Many of us are guilty of spending a significant amount of time focused on improving our weaknesses. From personal and professional goals to performance reviews or development plans, we’re often encouraged to identify gaps and work hard to close them. While growth and learning can be major keys to success, there's another approach that is sometimes overlooked: understanding and developing the strengths that already come naturally to us.

Your strengths are more than just the things you're good at. They are the natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that influence how you solve problems, build relationships and navigate tasks. When you understand what comes naturally to you, you may gain valuable insight into what energizes you and where you can make your greatest impact.

This can be a powerful tool for career growth and your overall well-being. The more opportunities you have to use your natural talents, the more engaged and motivated you’re likely to feel in your career. Research suggests that people who can use their natural strengths at work are also three times more likely to report a higher quality of life in general. If you're unsure where your natural strengths and talents may lie, you may consider taking a natural talents and strengths assessment to see where you land.

Understanding your strengths can also enhance teamwork and collaboration in your position. We all approach challenges differently, and what feels effortless to one person may require a significant amount of effort from someone else. Recognizing and valuing those differences helps teams communicate more effectively, build trust more easily, and leverage diverse perspectives to achieve better results.

A Quick Reflection Opportunity

Take a moment to think about a time when you felt energized, successful or completely engaged in what you were doing. Then, ask yourself:

What was I doing?
What felt natural or effortless during that time?
What type of impact was I making?
What strengths did I use?

Once you have identified those strengths, you may consider one way you can use them more intentionally this week. It could be in your next meeting, a project you are working on or even a conversation with a friend. The goal isn’t to become someone else — it’s to better understand what you naturally do best and how to use those skills to grow, contribute and thrive.