Help Your Teenager Discover Their Strengths
As parents, we all want to see our teenagers grow into happy, successful adults. One way to help them is by identifying and nurturing their strengths. Knowing what they're good at can improve their self-esteem and provide a foundation for future success.
It's essential to understand the difference between talents, strengths, and skills - this understanding will help your teenager use their strengths effectively. Talents are the things they’re naturally good at, while strengths are the abilities that they’ve developed and gotten better at. Skills, on the other hand, are things your teenager has learned or acquired. By distinguishing between these three components, your teen can understand their own potential and how to channel their strengths towards accomplishing their goals.
Reflecting with your teenager
Ask your teenager to think about the things they believe they're good at. It's important that they reflect on their own opinions, not just what others have told them. Have them answer questions like:
- What do your friends or family often come to you for help with?
- What are some things you're really good at without even trying?
- Is there something you always seem to do really well, even when you're not putting much effort into it?
Think About School
School can be a great place to identify strengths. Encourage your teenager to think about the subjects or tasks that come naturally to them. Which ones do they find easy or enjoy? Help them to see how these abilities can be used in future careers or hobbies.
Consider Activities
Activities outside of school can also help your teenager discover their strengths. Have them think about the things they participate in with friends, at school, or in the community. Which ones do they excel in or stand out? These activities can show them where their passions and talents lie.
Support them to reach out to those who know them in different contexts
One of the best ways for your teenager to know their strengths is to support them to seek feedback from people who know them best. Ask friends, family members, teachers, or coaches for feedback. Ask them to identify what they believe your teenager is good at. This external perspective can add extra insight and help reinforce your teenager's self-perception. Below I’ll provide some tips on how you can help your teenager send an email to those who know them best, asking for input on their strengths.
Start with an introduction: Your teenager should start by introducing themselves, stating the purpose of the email, and requesting feedback on their strengths. They can explain that they are on a journey of self-discovery and would like the input of those who know them well.
Hello,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you today because I am on a journey of self-discovery, and I would like your input on one aspect of myself that I find challenging to assess - my strengths and talents.
Encourage honesty: Encourage your teenager to ask for honest feedback. Remind them that they are not looking for compliments, but rather an honest assessment of their strengths and talents. Tell them that any constructive criticism or feedback is welcomed and will help them in their journey of self-discovery.
"I would appreciate your honest feedback, even if it's difficult to hear. I want to understand my strengths and talents from different perspectives and challenge myself to grow and improve."
Provide some prompts your teenager can include in the email: Some people may not know how to structure their feedback, which can result in them being vague or unhelpful. You can provide your teenager with some prompts that they can include in their email to make it easier for those who are giving feedback. Some prompts that may be useful are:
- What do you think are my strengths and talents?
- What unique qualities do you observe in me?
- What areas do you think I excel in, and how could I further improve on them?
Offer resources: Finally, suggest some resources that your teenager can utilize to develop their strengths and talents. For example, you can recommend that they take career or personality tests, sign up for extracurricular activities that align with their interests, or attend online courses related to their passions.
"In addition to your feedback, I would love some suggestions of resources that you think would help me in honing my strengths and discovering my hidden talent. It could be a book, an online workshop or a mentor relationship, for example."
Sample email text:
Hello [Name],
I hope you're doing well. I'm reaching out to you today because I'm trying to identify my strengths and talents. I understand that everyone has their own unique perspective, which is why I'm hoping to gather feedback from people who know me best.
Would you mind sharing your thoughts on my strengths and talents? I would appreciate your honest feedback, even if it's difficult to hear. I want to understand my strengths and talents from different perspectives and challenge myself to grow and improve.
These are some prompts that may help you in giving your feedback:
- What do you think are my strengths and talents?
- What unique qualities do you observe in me?
- What areas do you think I excel in, and how could I further improve on them?
Additionally, I would love some suggestions of resources that you think would help me in honing my strengths and discovering my hidden talent. It could be a book, an online workshop, or a mentor relationship, for example.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email, and I look forward to hearing your perspective.
Best regards,
[Your teenager's name]
By asking for feedback from people who know them well, they will gain a better understanding of their unique qualities. As a parent, you can guide your teenager in this process by providing prompts and resources they can use to develop their strengths and talents. It's important to remind them to approach the feedback process with an open mind and a willingness to learn and grow. By doing so, your teenager will be better equipped to pursue their passions and build a fulfilling life.
Grow their understanding
Once your teenager has identified their strengths, focus on them. Encourage them to pursue activities and experiences that allow them to use their strengths. Help them see how their strengths can be utilized in their future goals and careers.
Firstly, encourage your teen to join extracurricular activities that spark their interests. Whether it be joining the school’s robotics club or volunteering at an animal shelter, these activities will allow your teenager to experiment with their abilities and recognize their unique strengths. By participating in such programs, your teen will have an opportunity to grow and develop additional skills in an area they enjoy, all while discovering their natural talents.
Secondly, provide your teen with quality feedback as they explore their strengths and talents. Encourage them to reach out to their peers, teachers, and mentors to gain an objective opinion of their abilities. Often external perspectives are vital in discovering unrecognized strengths. Honest feedback from trusted sources can help your teen identify their skills and abilities, as well as highlight areas they may need to further develop.
Thirdly, counsel your teen to invest their time and energy in things that interest them. A hobby or passion project may seem like a waste of time at times, but it can help your teen explore their ingenuity better. Passion projects can help teenagers discover their hidden talents that can lead to their future career.
Finally, be supportive and proactive when it comes to your teen's journey of identifying their signature strengths. Providing a supportive and positive environment will encourage your teenager to explore and experiment. Reinforcing the importance of utilizing one's strengths to achieve success can allow your teen to feel more confident about pursuing their goals.
Why Choosing a Career Based on Your Strengths Benefits You for Life
As a parent, you want to guide your teenager in making decisions that will set them up for success and fulfillment in life. There are so many benefits of choosing a career based on your strengths.
Greater Job Satisfaction: When you choose a career based on your strengths, you increase the likelihood of enjoying your work. You will be engaged in your job and find the work fulfilling. This leads to greater job satisfaction, which translates to a happier life overall. People who enjoy their work also tend to perform better, leading to more success in their careers.
Increased Confidence: Knowing and utilizing your strengths in your career can boost your self-esteem and confidence. This is because you feel competent and capable when using your strengths. You will be able to tackle challenges with more ease and handle difficult situations with confidence, leading to greater success in your career and personal life.
Higher Career Performance: When you work from a place of strength, you are able to perform at a higher level than if you were working outside of your strengths. This is because you are naturally inclined to excel in your strengths, rather than struggling through tasks that drain your energy. When you perform at your best, you are more valuable to your company, making you more likely to progress in your career.
Opportunity for Growth: By choosing a career based on your strengths, you open up opportunities for growth in your field. As you become more skilled in your strengths, you can take on more challenging and diverse work, leading to promotions and a fulfilling career path. By consistently working with your strengths, you also become an expert in your field, meaning you are more likely to influence your industry.
Fulfillment in Life: A career based on your strengths can lead to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in life. When you are working in your strengths, you are more likely to feel like you are making a difference in the world, or at least in your industry. This can lead to a sense of pride and accomplishment that carries over into your personal life.
Conclusion
Identifying signature strengths and talents is crucial for teenagers to thrive. Encouraging them to distinguish between their abilities, join extracurricular activities, seek honest feedback, invest in their interests, and providing support along the way can help your teen find their passion and purpose. As parents, we play a vital role in guiding our teenagers towards discovering their full potential. Let’s help them find their path with their unique strengths and abilities.
Careers That Matter
At Careers That Matter, we know that you want to be a supportive parent who helps their kid find a satisfying and secure job. To make this happen, you need an effective method to guide your teenager towards a career they'll love. The problem is, your teen is unsure about what they want to do, and regular career advice just doesn't seem to cut it. This makes you feel worried about their future.
We believe that every teenager has unique strengths and potential that, if properly guided, can lead them to a successful career. We know how tough it can be because we've felt the same frustration of trying to help teens figure out their futures with tools that don't work. That's why we've created a mentorship program that really works.
