I think anyone that cares about their job always wants to improve. You want to be the best you can be and to do that you need to make your weaknesses your strengths. Right? Isn’t that what the word “improvement” kind of implies? A couple of years ago I was struggling with the concept of professional improvement until a colleague changed my perspective.

In 2020, I was working at an early-stage startup. I was in an environment that challenged me to take initiative, lead conversations, and make decisions. We didn’t have the personnel to accomplish every task we needed to be completed so everyone had to produce beyond their base requirements to make things happen. But this is why you join early-stage startups. To challenge yourself. To do things you can’t do in larger companies. To be in a chaotic yet opportunity-rich environment. It was an amazing experience yet it was also confusing for me as a young designer. When I was expected to perform so many tasks outside of my role it was difficult for me to perfect anything in my role. This put me in a constant state of feeling like I was always underachieving. I was writing product briefs and managing Jira, planning and conducting research, and strategizing for the future while producing for today. I was a product manager, design researcher, head of design, product designer, and graphic designer. Helping everyone and average at everything.

One day, I had a discussion with our Head of Engineering to learn more about ways that I could grow. Her advice was both reassuring and surprising. She told me that, “Sometimes the key to growth isn’t to focus on improving all of your weaknesses but to identify your strengths and make them your superpowers.”

It’s amazing what one simple sentence can do to shift your entire perspective. I didn’t have to be good at everything. In fact, It’s impossible to be good at everything. I could narrow my focus on specific skills I was already good at and continue improving them. Additionally, I found that there was a direct relationship between the things I was good at doing and what I enjoyed doing. Working on things you already enjoy doing is like pouring fuel on a raging fire. There is momentum, and you’re already engaged, motivated, and eager to do more.

I continue to think about this lesson today even in my current role. It has rejuvenated my mindset in times when imposter syndrome snarls its ugly fangs. It has also been a perspective that I have shared with others who have been struggling with professional growth. It’s easy to slowly become weighed down by negative thoughts that batter your self-esteem. Focusing on your strengths does the opposite. It helps you think about the things that make you uniquely equipped for the role you’re in today. Why you’re great at what you do.

Comment below what your top 3 strengths are. What do you consider as your “superpowers”? Do you find that your strengths are also things you enjoy doing? What are ways you can continue to improve those strengths?