To infinity and beyond!

“If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?”

If you’ve ever been stumped by this question in an interview, you’re not alone. However, successful people in all fields know themselves and their strengths. Discovering your professional superpower will help you focus your efforts in all aspects of your life.

Let this be an invitation to know yourself better. Some tools:

• Sarah Chang’s Muse article on harnessing your superpower provides ideas and inspiration about tapping into your unique gifts 
• Strengthsfinder will give you a detailed report about your strengths. The assessment does have a cost, but many have found it well worth it. 
• Another approach to discovering what really drives you is to think about your life purpose, which will generally involve using or sharing your superpower. This Psychology Today article might help you hone in on your purpose.

And, there’s always the tried and true: call your lifelines.

1. Talk one-on-one with several people who know you very well: a friend, a coworker or boss, a relative. It’s good to have folks from different parts of your life. 
2. Ask, what are my strengths? What is one thing I could improve or develop? Using my strengths, what would I be great at doing? 
3. Record this conversation. It's generally hard for us to fully take in praise or criticism—you’ll want to listen to or transcribe the recording later. 

Others aren't experts on you, but they do see you from a perspective you lack, and can often highlight gifts you may take for granted. We often discount the things that come most naturally to us, especially if we haven’t been rewarded or paid for them.

Once you have a handle on your superpower, it’s time to take a look at how you’re showing up in the world, how you’re communicating, also known as your personal brand. Look back soon for ways to communicate and share your brand.

Best,
Leslie

leslie.warner@tufts.edu | 617-627-3299 | Visit Alumni Career Services