Different people have different advantages in life. Sometimes these are obvious. Sometimes these are not so obvious.
People who may be labelled as introvert, dyslexic, ADHD or slow learners, for example, have many strengths. They can then build on these to perform superb work and get positive results.
Many creative people have a background of feeling different when they grew up. A person may have been a late developer, have had a lop sided personality or been different in another way. Those individuals who went on to thrive often had certain things in common.
They were supported by key people in their life – such as a parent, teacher or another significant person;
They were told to believe in themselves but were also taught how to survive or thrive in various situations;
They began to learn how use their differences to help themselves or other people.
Let’s explore the approach of focusing on people’s obvious and not so obvious advantages.
The Strengths Of People Who
Have A Supportive Background
Some people have the advantage of growing up in an encouraging environment. They may be given love, the basic materials for life and many opportunities to develop.
People want stability, stimulation and the chance to succeed. Growing up in such an environment can give some people an advantage. They may then need to add the ability to manage challenges they meet in life.
The Strengths Of People
Who Have Specific Talents
Some people may have specific strengths. They may be good at certain activities in sports, maths, music, the arts, helping people, design, technology or another field.
Such people can be helped to build on their strengths and do superb work. If appropriate, they can also be helped to earn a living by doing satisfying work and continuing to develop.
The Strengths Of People
Who Are Slow Learners
Ian Leslie wrote an article called In Praise Of Slow Learners that described the advantages of such people. These include the following characteristics.
They learn slowly but methodically … They take time to gather information and fully understand a topic … They then put the ideas into action … They keep practicing until they make things work … They then internalise these strategies for achieving future success.
Ian says there are advantages and disadvantages to being such a learner. But sometimes it is possible to apply the advantages in ways that deliver success. He explains this in the following way.
The Strengths Of People
Who Are Dyslexic
Some people who are dyslexic have specific strengths. These are described on the many websites that focus on helping people to build on these talents. Here is a summary of these qualities.
Dyslexics are highly aware of the environment … They are more curious than average … They think mainly in pictures instead of words … They like to move and experiment with things.
They are highly intuitive and insightful … They use many of their senses – which means they think and perceive multi-dimensionally … They have vivid imaginations.
Dyslexics often do well in certain kinds of work. These include entrepreneurship, some aspects of business, the arts, work where they can move or create things and engineering.
The Strengths Of People
Who Have Autism
Thorkil Sonne took this approach when his son Lars was discovered to have autism. He created the Specialisterne Foundation that aims to create one million jobs. Here is how Thorkil describes the strengths of such people.
People with autism often have outstanding memories, a remarkable eye for detail and do repetitive tasks with enthusiasm. These skills can be valuable for companies that specialise in developing technology.
My vision is to create new possibilities for people with ASD and to influence society to adopt a more positive attitude towards people with ASD.
It is believed that one percent of the world’s population may have Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is equivalent to 68 million people worldwide.
Even more people may have other disorders on the autism spectrum, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). These are all potential specialist people – with great business potential.
The Strengths Of People
Who Have ADHD
Some people who have ADHD demonstrate certain strengths. They are often energetic, driven and focused. They love set goals, make a plan and follow it to achieve success.
Such people can be helped to channel their energies in ways they find stimulating. They may then do superb work when playing a sport, performing in the arts, driving sales or working towards achieving other goals.
There are several websites that help such people to build on their strengths. Here is a link to the snappywords.com site that offers many practical tools for students with ADHD.
The Strengths Of People Who
Have Lop Sided Personalities
Some people have lopsided personalities. They may be brilliant in some areas but totally blank in others. Warren Buffett described himself in this way. Here is a summary of what he said.
“I have a lopsided personality. I am brilliant with numbers but I cannot tell you the colour of the wallpaper in my room at home. Even though I have lived in the same house for over fifty years.”
A person with a lopsided personality may see things quickly in one area of life. They can tell you exactly what is happening and what is about to happen. In other areas they don’t see a thing.
If appropriate, they can be helped to build on their strengths and manage the consequences of any weaknesses.
The Strengths Of People
Who Are Introverts
Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking highlighted the strengths of such people. Some introverts display the following characteristics.
Introverts like to feel in control of their world. They therefore often rehearse what they are going to do next. Some also learn how to buy time to think and make good decisions when the unexpected happens.
Such people are happy in their own company but some make a living by going into role. They may do this by being a medic, trusted advisor, actor, leader or another role.
They then click into action. They feel in control because they know: a) the role; b) the rules to follow to get the right results. Such people may then go home and regain energy by do things that they find rewarding as an introvert.
The Strengths Of People
Who Have Fewer Strengths
Great workers are good at focusing. This highlights an approach that may sound counter intuitive. Sometimes people who have fewer strengths are fortunate. One of my teachers expressed this in the following way.
“Some people who have many talents spend lots of time deciding which to use. Some people are lucky and have only one main talent. They can then focus on making the best use of that ability.”
The Strengths Of People
Who Have Managed Adversity
Paul G. Stoltz and Erik Weihenmayer described this approach in their book The Adversity Advantage. This shows how overcoming setbacks can fuel a person’s ability to produce greatness. Here is an introduction to the book and suggestions the authors offer for managing adversity.
Let’s return to your own life and work. What do you think may be some of your own personal strengths and advantages? How can you build on these and do your best to get positive results?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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