Your strengths are the foundation of your brand, and having them is the key to making a mark in your professional life.
As a career and brand expert who has consulted with CEOs and big companies like Google and Microsoft, I help people discover what sets them apart from their competitors.
Are you an innovator full of creative ideas? Are you a leader who inspires you to exceed your goals? Or are you a maverick – all the traditional leaders stand for, you stand for the opposite?
Based on 40 years of experience, the following are the rarest types of employees who can outperform others:
1. Innovator
- You see unique opportunities for innovation during times of crisis or change.
- The more complicated the problem, the more excited you are.
- You’re the first to ask, “What if we tried to do this another way?”
- You can be impulsive and change your mind, which can only increase your creativity.
Everyone talks about thinking outside the box, but innovators really do. He often deviates from the norm in his thinking, and is not bothered by what other people think.
2. The leader
- You have what it takes to motivate and lead people to achieve, and even exceed, their goals.
- Solving problems and overseeing complex plans is in your DNA.
- You always have a clear mission that unites the team with a common goal.
- People see you as a big-picture thinker and they respond to your call to action.
In a world of conflict, leadership has never been more important. We admire him not only for his achievements and titles, but for his ability to inspire us to overcome great challenges and achieve great things.
3. The Maverick
- You are confident enough not to follow a predetermined path.
- An outsider’s perspective and self-sufficiency make you an independent thinker.
- You can be aggressive, egocentric and disagreeable, but you are also extroverted, energetic and spontaneous.
- You know how to energize your message with an unusual story to captivate your audience.
Mavericks make bureaucrats nervous because of their philosophy, “If it ain’t broke, it’s broke.” He is known for his opposing viewpoints, but always has a loyal group of supporters.
4. Engineer
- You like to fiddle with objects, ideas or processes to see if you can make them better.
- When things don’t go according to your expectations, you criticize not only others but also yourself.
- You tend to be introverted and quieter than a party animal.
- People see you as detail-oriented but creative.
Perhaps no other work personality is as methodical and process-oriented as an engineer. Engineers use a consistent process that applies, which includes phases, steps and procedures to solve problems.
5. Expert
- Your specialty topic is your passion, and you stay in touch with new developments in your field of expertise.
- Your goal is to make a significant contribution to your field as an expert.
- You make deliberate decisions based on solid research and analysis.
- Reliability is part of your DNA.
People trust experts because they have credentials that show they know one thing very well. It could be education, work experience, projects, awards, research, certifications, internships and media recognition.
6. Target Marketer
- Not only do you understand your target audience, you connect with them deeply.
- You always come up with new ideas that will delight your users.
- You are a good listener, very attentive, and considerate of your clients.
- In return, your client trusts that you have their best interests in mind.
Target marketers identify with their audience and feel empathy for them. The goal is to understand them better and meet their needs better than anyone else.
7. Elite
- You belong at the highest level in your line of work.
- You are sought after because of your connections.
- You love luxury and buy only the best quality in everything to maintain a high standard of living.
- You are never accused of having imposter syndrome. You have high self-confidence and self-esteem.
The elite are ambitious and determined, and they know people. They are proud of their achievements and are well paid. In his mind, he earned it and was worth every penny.
8. Reason
- You feel confident and hopeful that you can change the world.
- You have empathy and an emotional reaction when you see the injustice or suffering of others.
- Sometimes you feel overwhelmed and under pressure from other people’s requests, but you have a hard time saying “no.”
- People see you as trustworthy, reliable and always willing to help.
Being synonymous with a cause has led many people to a bigger stage. Think of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and her fight for girls’ education, or climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
Catherine Coat is the founder Self Brand and author of “Your New Brand: How to Wow the New World of Work.” As a career and branding expert, he has given presentations and held workshops at large companies like Google, Microsoft and PepsiCo. Follow him on Twitter @catherinenekaputa.
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