By Rachel Yoka, CAPP, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

“Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time.”

If you aren’t familiar with Marcus Buckingham, quoted above, I recommend you check him out. He’s an amazing speaker and author on talent and professional development. One of his central themes and key ideas is that we spend too much time focusing on our weaknesses rather than developing those unique talents that make us special and gifted.  Sure, we may not be great at expenses and accounting; we need to do our due diligence in those areas.

To truly reach our potential, he emphasizes that we should dive into understanding our strengths, and work to hone and maximize them (sharpening our individual saws, so to speak).  We can do that by spending time figuring out not only where we excel, but also what we truly enjoy.  When we think about our professional lives, what brings us the most satisfaction and enjoyment? What do we do first in our day, and what do we avoid doing?

Start there. Write it down and discuss it with your mentor or a trusted colleague. Then look for ways to get better at those tasks or projects. If that’s writing, spend more time writing.   I consider that one of my superpowers–share yours here and let us know what you are working on!

Rachel Yoka, CAPP, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, is IPMI’s vice president of program development.