The door opens and a powerful voice beckons you to enter the board room. In your black high heels, hose, and power suit, you are prepared for the ensuing questions. "Why would you be the best choice for this position ma'am?"
"What qualifies you for the job?"
Inevitably, the discussion will turn to this question: "What do you consider to be your top three strengths?" And as a follow-up inquiry, "What are your weaknesses?"
Most of us are well aware of our weaknesses for they have been tripping us up for quite a while. In addition, many people can pinpoint at least one personal strength. What are your top three in each category?
I am a good leader who uses vision and delegation to complete tasks. I have always been a student, picking up new concepts quickly and with eagerness. My greatest strength is teaching, because somehow I can take a complicated topic and break it down into manageable pieces for the learner.
Do I have to limit my weaknesses to only three? (Maybe you feel the same way.) First, I have a hard time keeping track of administrative tasks, such as making phone calls, managing valuable documents, etc. Second, I procrastinate which often causes me to be less than timely. Third, I struggle with negative thinking - it comes in the form of pessimism, low self-confidence, or depression.
The employer could go a couple of different ways with the interview now: either she will want to know how I will capitalize upon my strengths in this job, OR she will ask how I plan to improve these areas of weakness. There is a philosophy that says to ignore your weaknesses (because you won't likely improve much on them anyhow) and focus in on your strengths. The New Year's resolution philosophy leans toward improving weaknesses, but I have to admit that I haven't seen many people find that to be successful.
Is there another way?
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God's voice whispers quietly in my ear and I lean forward to hear His call. Speak and write out of your weaknesses, for it is in your weakness that my power is made strong. Gulp. But God, I'm not sure I want to talk about those things and doesn't it make more sense to ask someone who has some answers?
How easily I could write about my strengths, but would God be glorified, or would I? If I admit my weaknesses, NO, if I BOAST about my weaknesses, then God alone gets all the glory.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? How could God use those for His glory?
Comments
I love it! It's a wonderful reminder...write about my weaknesses, my failures....
Oh couldn't I share the good things, you know the things that make me look good! Oh right! Die to self, glorify God, His strength...my weaknesses.
Pride, oh yes, pride. :-( Wanting to exault self...
Oh God help me to die to self and boast of my weaknesses!
THANK YOU HEATHER...a true friend who speaks TRUTH!