What are your weaknesses? 

When asked in interviews, we all have a couple of well-fabricated weaknesses up our sleeve.

Serves the purpose. 

But what are our real weaknesses? And why most of us are not able to clearly articulate them?

Here is the answer: Our weaknesses are deeply buried under our strengths.

Oftentimes we use our strengths to such an extent that our weaknesses always remain hidden from us.

These weaknesses also remain hidden from others.

We “overuse” our strengths to hide our weaknesses.

Here is a common example.

I bet you must have experienced a heated argument with your close ones, friends, or colleagues.

If you always try to win such arguments by being logical and critical then it is more likely that you are unable to have a deeply emotional and empathetic dialogue. 

Note that “Always” is the keyword here. 

If you “always” address conflict by being passive and quiet then you are underusing assertion as a skill.

If you happen to play a Table Tennis match with me, you will notice that 80% of the time I use my backhand.

I am an average player, never took any formal coaching. 

But the backhand is so hardwired since my college days that I am just unable to play simple forehand shots.

I tend to overcompensate the lack of forehand technique by creative and strong backhand action.

I could easily improve my game by 30-40% if I work on my forehand but sadly I don’t.

Table tennis is a sport, your weaknesses could be spotted in plain sight.

Unfortunately, life isn’t.

Strengths are often coping mechanisms for our shortcomings.

Behavioural shortcomings are difficult to identify.

But with some reflection, you could identify them.

Just spot a strength that you tend to overuse and ask why am I doing that?

#strength#weaknesses#behavioralscience#selfawareness