Do you ever feel trapped in the job you’re doing? Do you feel that you can’t move on, in your life or your career, because you don’t think you have the skills you need?

I bet you do have the skills and the experience that you need, to apply for that promotion, ask for a raise, or even set up your own business! Very often, we don’t see the skills that we have and how we can apply them to other situations. Let’s look at what you’re great at and how you can use your skills!

You’re great at this!

A skill is an ability to do something. You’ll feel more confident when you’re doing something at which you’re already skilled. You can assess the level of your ability to do anything. You could be great at doing something; you have no skill in doing something else. That simply means that you have a gap you could fill.

The first stage is to carry out an audit of your skills. What are you already great at, good at and not so good at? You get to choose which skills you put onto your list, to assess. There are literally hundreds that you could choose from, so here are some pointers, to help you decide what to assess.

1. Planning Skills. These skills are about the future. Having good planning skills minimises risks and gives a structure to whatever you want to make happen. They allow you to look at different possibilities and make decisions. They use your creative and pragmatic qualities. Your list of planning skills might include gathering information, setting goals, using your imagination, coming up with ideas and budgeting. What other skills do you want to add to your list?

How would you rate your planning skills, overall? Are you great at arranging fun days out for your family? Do you enjoy setting up team meetings? Or would you rather not think about the future?!

2. Doing Skills. Doing skills are about the present. Having made your plan, they get you started and help you to carry it out. They fall into three categories – in relation to yourself, other people and ‘things’. They might include understanding instructions, attending to detail, motivating others, organising resources and following plans.

What score do you give your doing skills? Are you great at getting the kids to school on time and keeping the house tidy? Do you enjoy working in a team with friends or colleagues? Or would you rather leave the detail and the doing to someone else?

3. Keeping-Going Skills. These skills help you to maintain action and help you to enjoy what you’re doing. They can include knowing when to keep going, knowing when to stop, encouraging others, finishing tasks and coaching other people.

How good are your keeping-going skills? Can you pick yourself up and when you’ve had some bad news? Can you rally your friends and neighbours to support a local cause? Or do you get knocked back every time the boss doesn’t thank you publicly for your work?

4. Evaluating Skills. Evaluating skills are about getting the best from the past. They help you to learn, make decisions and make better plans next time. These skills could be reviewing your progress, measuring results, decision making, letting go and stepping back.

How would your score your evaluating skills? Do you love measuring how far you’ve run (or walked) this week? Can you easily decide with film to go to this month? Or do you try to keep control of everything that’s going on in your family, instead of letting someone take charge for a while?

What Does it all Mean?

Got more going for you than you thought? Got less going for you than you thought?

Don’t let your modesty or lack of confidence prevent you from boasting a bit. Make sure that the perfectionist in you isn’t stopping you being satisfied with something that is less than perfect. If you’re not sure, talk to your manager, colleagues and friends. How do they rate you? Use their rating to challenge your own, as they may score you more accurately than you score yourself. Who’s got it right?

You can find more information on how your unique blend of skills could match with particular jobs or careers by doing a Skills Health Check at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

Or call me on 0797 707 2760 for a chat! Emailing me at sue.hewitt@develomenta.co.uk to book time to talk works too. No skills required to reach out to me!