Back in 2022, we did an 8-part series about workplace culture, entitled “Are You The Right Fit?” (Click here to read). In the series, we outlined 8 clues for how you, as an amazingly unique and complex individual, could fit effectively into an even more unique and complex workplace organization. On one level, it’s almost laughable that such a fit could be discovered, let alone develop a process to methodically figure out. 🙂
The clues were focused on recognizing aspects about the workplace rather than your own personal makeup and how important YOU are to the “fit.” After all, it takes two to tango, so in this upcoming series, we’re going to explore how unique we are as individuals and how important it is for us to each “know thyself” (Shakespeare) in order to fully identify the best possible workplace vocations and/or organizations for each of us. (Yes, I do believe there can be multiple answers to each). 🙂
Did You Need to Break Up?
In their classic hit, “Knowing Me Knowing You, “ ABBA sings about a personal break up with this chorus:
“Knowing me, knowing you, aha
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you, aha
We just have to face it, this time we’re through (This time we’re through, this time we’re really through, this time we’re through)
(We’re really through) Breaking up is never easy, I know
But I have to go (I have to go, this time I have to go, this time I know)
Knowing me, knowing you
It’s the best I can do”
How many employment misfits or break ups could be avoided if each of us worked through a process to truly know ourselves and our targeted vocation or employer more fully? In this series, we’re going to outline what topics, attributes, and aptitudes you could get to know about yourself, and how you might approach each one.
Know Who God Says You Are
Scripture is always a good place to start, so let’s begin with God’s perspective about us:
- Genesis 1:27-28 – “So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
- Exodus 31:1-6 – “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make.”
- Psalms 139:13-14 – “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”
- Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
I encourage you to take a quick minute to re-read those Scriptures out loud – – go deep with yourself on what God has told us. Wow! I find those Scriptures to be incredibly inspiring and hopeful about how God has created and equipped each of us.
To that end, within our fantastically complex make up, I’ve identified 17 topics, attributes, and aptitudes with which we can take the opportunity to deepen our understanding of how to increase the odds of a better fit within a vocation and organization. Here are the 17 items, defined by Dictionary or other sources (for phrases), and my own brief expansion of each:
17 Topics, Attributes, and Aptitudes That Shape Vocational Fit and Fulfillment
1. Ability
Power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc. I would emphasize the “capacity” for advancement or repeating the ability. Closely related to skills and talents.
2. Core Values
Standards we strive to live by and the beliefs that guide our decisions. Shapes who we are and the manner in which we do things.
Read our blog “Personal Core Values” here.
3. Distinctives
Serving to distinguish; characteristic. Here at Crossroads Career, we have gotten more specific with the concept of Unique Distinctives to help people with a process to articulate what theirs may be.
Read our blog “Top Tip’s #5 – Unique Distinctions” here.
Read our blog “Is Your Resume Distinctive?” here.
4. Dreams
A sequence of imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake. Not to be confused with a nightmare or hallucination. 🙂 Dreams can lead to a more concise articulation through a vision statement, but they may stay more ethereal and descriptive, including an aspiration (I dream of being an NBA player).
Read our blog “The Dream Job? Explore!” here.
5. Experience
A particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something. All of us have experiences. The key is being able to harvest accomplishments and learnings from them. I like to encourage others to connect the dots for common themes from the past to help define the future.
Read our blog “Top 10 Tips for Best-Ever Star Stories” here.
Read our blog “Your Resume Should Be A Star!” here.
Read our blog “Who Are You Really?” here.
6. Goals
The result or achievement toward which effort is directed. Much has been written about goal-setting for your life, work, and career. We can help you get started with a couple of those.
Read our blog “Get the Goals You Set” here.
Read our blog “How to Answer: ‘What Are Your Career Goals?'” here.
7. Interests
Something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person. Can be related to passions, but interests are not necessarily as strong. As a generalist (vs. a specialist), I have many interests that influence my actions, while passions typically tend to drive those interests further.
8. Instincts
A natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency. I’ve found my instincts are kind of that “Spidey sense” about a situation. It’s a confluence of the environment and situation that allows me to “read the room” to then determine what response or action I should take. We all have instincts, and one of mine is a tendency to be a people pleaser, but offsetting that, at times, is my inclination to be a challenger of the status quo, and that sure doesn’t seem to please a lot of people. Hmmmm. 🙂
9. Life Purpose
A concise, actionable sentence defining your core and acting as a personal roadmap for decision-making. The “why” for your life – why do you get out of bed in the morning? “Why” you are on this planet? A statement combining your “being” with your “doing.”
Read our blog “Why Do You Get Up in the Morning?” here.
10. Motivation
To provide with a motive, or a cause or reason to act. For me this attribute is probably the trickiest one to articulate because I have found that it is very situational. I desire for my motivations to do things for God’s glory and the good of others, but I’ve often found my own selfish pride subverting my purposeful desire. Do I answer God’s call or my own?
Read our blog “Who’s Calling and Why Does it Make Sense to Answer?” here.
11. Passions
A strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire. I’ve met people who simply can not “not” do something. They have an innate drive that inspires them to pursue a particular activity or goal. I like the word “extravagant” in the definition…it’s a drive that to others may appear “over the top.”
12. Personality
A person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities. We all know people we would describe as having “quite the personality,” but how would we describe ourselves? How clearly can we succinctly convey to someone else that “collection of qualities” known as “me?” 🙂
Read our blog “What’s Their Career Personality?” here.
13. Skills
Competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity. Probably one of the words we think we know the most about. We can develop these and many times capture how well we do with these. However, can you summarize your top skills quickly and concisely? Gulp! 🙂 And what if we over-rely on them?
Read our blog “Confidence From Competence” here.
14. Spiritual Gifts
Divine empowerments, given by the Holy Spirit to believers, not as natural talents, but to serve God and build up the Christian community. Based on my Scriptural understanding, these gifts are still present today and are used to advance God’s Kingdom and the Gospel.
Read our blog “Don’t Leave Your Spiritual Gifts Unopened” here.
15. Strengths
A positive or valuable attribute or quality. Made popular with a book called “StrengthsFinder” from the Gallup organization, the main message is to focus on and lean into your strengths rather than trying to “fix” your weaknesses. Great book and wonderful assessment tool to help you articulate what yours are.
Read our blog “Use Your Strengths to Find Career Fulfillment” here.
Read our blog “How to Answer: ‘What are Your Greatest Strengths?'” here.
16. Talent
A capacity for achievement or success. What you are naturally gifted to do in a pattern that leads toward that achievement. For example, people may be musically or athletically talented which enables them to achieve outcomes that others simply can’t. Understanding and being grateful for the talents we’ve been given can help us have the right perspective on our work.
17. Work styles
Describe your work personality: how you work with others, your preferred way to work, and how you manage your work responsibilities. Sometimes referred to as behavioral styles, there are multiple assessment tools and exercises to help you refine your thinking to be able to describe to others your work style. This may include getting feedback from others who have observed your work habits and tendencies.
Ok, congrats on getting through all that! If you’re like me, your head might be spinning – – there’s a LOT of places we can dig deeper to know and articulate more clearly to ourselves who we are and how we got here.
I’m hopeful the blog links can help you get started in areas that are of particular interest, and in the coming weeks, we will provide more practical perspectives with these 17 attributes.
Additional Resources
Two more resources that could be useful to you:
- Step 3, Aptitude – From our 7 steps for Career Transition, this section of our “You Are Created For Good Works” workbook, has multiple exercises and background to help you investigate this topic more. Click here to
- Crossroads Guides – These skilled and compassionate professionals are standing by to listen to your background and can help you reflect and take action on some of these areas. Click HERE to set up a free 45 minute consultation.
Stay tuned, LOTS more to come to help us more clearly understand just how amazing God made each of us to be!
Blessings!
Dave Sparkman currently serves as the volunteer Crossroads Career board chair and local ministry leader. He is also the founder and managing director of Spark Your Culture, a corporate culture consulting firm. Prior to that he worked at UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune #5 public company, serving in the role of Chief Culture Officer. His unemployment experience came from the implosion of Arthur Andersen, where he served as the West Region Managing Partner, People.
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