I’m not trying to kiss up, sell you something, blow smoke up your butt, bend your mind or make you do something against your will. But I do want you to DO something right now. And here’s what I want you to do: “Make my and your day by writing down — on paper, in a Word document, in an e-mail to yourself, whatever — exactly why you’re SO awesome!”
This exercise is intended especially for all of you sensitive gals and guys who are prone to being a little bit shy about how great thou art! Y’all “sensitive types” gotta get over being so sweet and inward-gazing! And I can help you with my new communication system called TALK TO ME.
Do you sell yourself short with the excuse that you don’t want to become “stuck up?” Why do you sell yourself short? It’s time to sell yourself on yourself!
COMMUNICATING YOUR TALENTS
Need help getting started? A very talented, single, professional mom came up with the following list of her “secret strengths” or “saleable skills” — traits that will help her target and reach a new job post. On the NICI (New Insights Communication Inventory), our friend and colleague tests as an Empathizer-type introvert or ETI.
A short list of why I AM awesome:
I am a good friend.
I am an attentive listener.
I am intuitive.
I respect people.
I see the dignity in other people.
I do not purposefully try to hurt other people’s feelings.
I do not have power issues.
I am self-empowered.
I am an excellent painter.
I am a great mother.
I am a caring sister.
I am a loving daughter.
I am an interested aunt.
I keep my children safe.
I make good decisions (most of the time.)
I am a passionate person.
I look people in the eyes when I talk to them.
I am kind to waiters and waitresses.
I work well with others.
I know how to validate others. (I do validate others.)
I love books…I read!
I believe in God and try to be a living example of his love.
I keep trying…I am persistent.
I know I am my brother’s keeper.
I know where (the location) my soul resides in my body.
I am a creative thinker.
I am a visionary.
I try to be honest yet not hurt other’s feelings when saying something unpleasant.
I am compassionate and I see the good in people even when they are jerks.
I am willing to learn something new.
I admit I don’t know everything.
I like to laugh.
I am awesome…just because I am me.
The combination of your communicator type is linked to your personality type, and both your attitude and mood (and much else) more than you can possibly realize. In fact, “sensitive” guys and gals who are Empathizer-type communicators struggle with the very act of unabashedly and pride-fully endorsing their “secret strengths”…“saleable skills”…“God-given gifts”…“talents”…“the master plan.” Seems that when it comes to talking loud and proud about one’s strengths and assets…extroverted personalities just seem to do it better and more naturally. Or do they?
Empathizer introverts or ETI’s are excellent INTUITERS…if they allow themselves to be “pulled toward their passion” or “drawn to their master plan” or “actualize their latent talents” or “own their secret strengths” or “believe in themselves!” In my talk system, to live a “purpose-driven life” you must first embrace the strength of your strengths…and then embrace the strength of your weaknesses. Satisfaction, high self-esteem and happiness result.
It may be an “extroverts’ world” BUT “the introvert advantage” IS awesome. Wouldn’t you just LOVE to have the confidence boost to use just one of the strengths listed above…strengths that come SO easily to Empathizer-type introverts? You can bet your blowhole and your blazing star on IT.
When done right, effective communication strategies mean that everyone in a family or work system can travel on a “two-way communication highway” instead of a one-way talk track, according to Dr. Dennis O’Grady, blogging psychologist at www.drogrady.com and author of the newly released book “Talk to Me.” Dennis uses his “typecasting” system to interlink communicator type with personality type. There are four typecast talk players: Empathizer introverts (ETI), Empathizer extroverts (ETE); Instigator introverts (ITI), Instigator extroverts (ITE). Each subtype has its own subset of strengths and Achilles Heel.