What Is In Your Tool Belt?

Whenever I think of people’s strengths, I imagine a tool belt. In order for you to maximize your strengths, you have to know what to carry in your tool belt and how to use your tools.

What are your strengths?

In classic westerns, cowboys always reach for their gun when dealing with trouble. What are you reaching for? Maybe you reach for a “camera” to get the complete picture of the issue, or for a “calculator” to analyze the situation. Perhaps, you tend to put your “headphones” on to isolate yourself, or maybe you have a “lighter” handy to create a sparkle of inspiration on your team.

It may be so natural to you that you may not even see what tools you use. Often, it’s easier for others to see what tools you usually reach for. So, ask around.

What about weaknesses?

Having a “hammer” is great if you need to hit a nail. But as you’ve probably heard before, “When you have a hammer in your hand, everything looks like a nail.”

Your tools are your strengths only when you use them in the right circumstances. People may think weaknesses are the missing tools, but your favorite tools may also become your weakness if you use them for the wrong purpose.

When people need a “magnifying glass” to examine the details of the current situation, they will be annoyed by seeing you walking around with “binoculars” and talking about future possibilities. Similarly, you will fail with your “shovel”, ready to dig deeper into what’s going on, when what’s needed is a “flashlight” to bring some clarity into an ambiguous situation.

Watch what tools you reach for and when. Pay attention to actions you take. And when you feel empty handed, that’s the time to think of a new tool or to look for a buddy who has it in his tool belt.