Gaining insight into your own talents starts with consciously observing activities that naturally energise you and in which you excel effortlessly. Real talents feel natural and are often overlooked because they feel so natural. By systematically reflecting on your moments of success, collecting feedback from others and analysing what really motivates you, you can get a clear picture of your unique qualities and consciously use them in your career.
Why is it so difficult to recognise your own talents?
Recognising your own talents is challenging because we are often dealing with unconscious competence: we are so good at certain things that it feels natural. We think everyone has the same natural skills as we do. In addition, we constantly compare ourselves to others and often see mainly what we are not good at.
Proximity to our own abilities makes objective assessment difficult. What is effortless for you can be challenging for others. You regard your strengths as normal because you live with them every day. Social comparison causes you to pay particular attention to areas where others perform better, leaving your own qualities invisible.
Modesty and fear of appearing arrogant also play a role. Many people are uncomfortable naming their talents for fear of appearing boastful. These mental blocks prevent you from becoming aware of your true strength and unique contribution.
What concrete methods will help you identify your talents?
Feedback from others is one of the most powerful methods To discover your talents. Ask colleagues, friends and family what they see as your natural strengths. They can more objectively perceive what you excel at because they are not as close to it as you are.
Reflection exercises help you recognise patterns. Analyse moments when you were in flow: when did work not feel like work? Which activities energise you instead of exhausting you? Write down situations when others asked you for help because you are so good at it.
Science-based assessments, such as the BrainsFirst methodology we use, systematically map your natural talents and cognitive behavioural preferences. These tools combine self-examination with objective measurements to give a complete picture of your unique profile.
Keep a success journal in which you note weekly which achievements make you proud and which compliments you receive. After a few weeks, clear patterns will emerge that reveal your talents.
How do you distinguish real talents from learned skills?
Real talents can be recognised by ease of implementation and energy gains during operation. Where others have to study hard, you learn fast. Activities that make use of your talents feel natural and energise you, even after intensive use. You perform consistently well in them, even under pressure.
Learned skills, on the other hand, take more effort to develop and maintain. They exhaust you when used intensively and require conscious attention to execute well. You can become competent at them, but it never feels completely natural.
Both are valuable, but play different roles in your career development. Talents are the basis for exceptional performance and long-term motivation. Learned skills complement your professional toolbox and make you more versatile.
Pay attention to your learning speed: with talents, you grasp concepts quickly and develop intuition. With learned skills, you are more likely to follow step-by-step processes and rely on learned techniques. Both have their place, but your talents determine where you can excel the most.
What do you do if your talents do not match your current job?
Start by looking for opportunities within your current role To use your talents more. Discuss with your manager which projects or tasks are better suited to your natural qualities. Often there are more opportunities than you think to gradually adapt your function.
Explore new projects or initiatives within your organisation that better suit your talents. Offer yourself for working groups, improvement projects or new challenges that make use of your strengths. This will give you experience and visibility without immediate drastic changes.
Develop a step-by-step plan for a career change if adaptation within your current role is not possible. Build a relevant network, undertake further training and gather experience in your desired direction through volunteering or side projects.
Career coaching can help you develop a realistic transition strategy that takes into account your financial situation and personal circumstances. We guide people in making conscious choices that lead to greater job satisfaction and sustainable employability, so you can make the most of your talents in a role that suits you.