Today, I’m going to invite you to take the step of asking someone who knows you to offer feedback. Asking for and receiving feedback can be intimidating. The focus is usually on finding problems, airing grievances, making complaints. The feedback you’ll be requesting has nothing to do with exploring weaknesses or shortcomings. Instead, you’re going to get some feedback about what you’re good at—your strengths.
To get started, I suggest you take a few minutes and complete the VIA Strengths Inventory (look for it under Engagement Questionnaires here; the inventory is free and results are confidential). If you’ve got an hour or so, do the VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire; if you’re short on time, take the Brief Strengths Test. Either way, you’ll wind up with a list of your character strengths ranked from lowest to highest (things like love of learning, gratitude, kindness, and the like).
Write down your top five strengths and think about what each one means to you, then seek out someone who knows you reasonably well and with whom you feel comfortable. Tell them about the inventory and then ask for some feedback around your results. It’s that simple: just ask something to the effect of “you know me: do these results seem accurate to you?” Don’t forget to practice the listening skills you worked on yesterday. Allow the person giving feedback to speak, then thank them for taking the time to give you feedback.
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Great excercice! I suppose will work with them later, it was kind of shocking for me…many internal fights discovered :s (took the long one)
thank you!