My Strengths and Weaknesses
My assignment was to discuss my strengths and weaknesses. My strengths and weaknesses are apparent in the manner that I completed this assignment. Not being ready to show my work until the due date is revealing. I’ve been thinking about how I would approach this task for days.
I intended an honest assessment, instead of framing weaknesses as strengths like job interviews generally expect. I took BDC – The Bank for Canadian Entrepreneurs’ aptitude test twice and contemplated the results. Many of my classmates have posted their personal assessments days ago. I’ve read these to see what sorts of responses this assignment might inspire.
This is typical of my working style. It can be a weakness, but I try to translate it into a strength. It shows that I’m driven to excel but that I’m less comfortable dealing with uncertainty. I’m most productive when I can give attention to multiple things at once, doing what’s obvious at first glance. When the next steps become less clear, I prefer to step back and let my subconscious figure out what to do next before circling back. For me, action is paramount. I would rather take a shot at something, work until I recognize my progress declining, and then regroup. This isn’t so much deliberation as it is repetition.
This is also definitely procrastination, and it has the potential to lead to spectacular failure. Sometimes there are viable shortcuts that I overlook or dismiss. Even when a perfunctory effort would suffice, I generally try to give my best effort both for my own esteem and that of others. Eventually, a deadline approaches with the prospect of having to show my work. I work well under stress and use it as motivation to complete projects. I hope to succeed more often than not.
Is there an easier path? I generally think there is, and I try to simplify things as much as possible. There’s value and beauty in both complexity and simplicity. Finding a healthy balance would be ideal. Discussing my strengths and weaknesses has helped me recognize some uncomfortable patterns. It hasn’t resolved the tension – it has only made it visible. As always, there is more work to be done.