Discovering Your Strengths, Values, and the Power of Mentorship
Every fulfilling career begins with self-awareness. Understanding what energizes you, what grounds you, and who can guide you is not a luxury – it’s the foundation of continuous growth. Before chasing new opportunities or bigger titles, it’s important to take the time to rediscover your strengths, uncover your values, and seek the mentors who can help you translate both into action.
Starting with Strengths
When asked for our elevator pitch, many of us stumble. We’re conditioned to focus on fixing weaknesses rather than celebrating what comes naturally. Yet science shows that when we work in alignment with our natural strengths – the activities that give us energy and feel effortless – we perform better and feel more fulfilled.
Begin by asking people you trust – whether that’s colleagues, friends, or mentors – where they see you excel with ease and look for patterns in their feedback. Tools like the CliftonStrengths Finder can provide an extra layer of insight, revealing your top themes and how they interact. And if you sense a gap between your strengths and your daily work, look for ways to volunteer your strengths: offer creative input on a cross-functional project or help another team solve a challenge. Each small experiment builds evidence of what makes you thrive.
Validate your Values
Strengths tell you how you show up at your best; values tell you why. Your values act as a compass for decision-making and defining what feels meaningful. Start by reviewing a broad list of values (this can include integrity, curiosity, adventure, belonging, creativity, balance, growth, etc.), and narrow it down to the ten that resonate most. Then rank and define your top three in your own words.
Once articulated, your values become a filter. They help you recognize when an opportunity fits or when something feels off. They also help you communicate authentically at work – in interviews, during feedback sessions, or when choosing between career paths. When your decisions align with your core values, you’ll feel grounded even in uncertainty.
A Mentor, or Two
With your inner strengths and values in hand, you’ll be ready to seek outer perspective. A mentor can accelerate growth by helping you connect dots you might not yet see. The right mentor doesn’t have to be senior or from your field – what matters is trust, openness, and shared values.
With that said, starting within your workplace is often the most natural place to begin. Notice the people who consistently inspire you or who seem to embody traits you admire. Ask for a short conversation, explain what draws you to them, and share what you hope to learn. You can also expand outward through your network – think LinkedIn groups, alumni communities, or professional associations. And don’t limit yourself to one mentor, as each offers a different lens.
To make the most of the relationship, take ownership. Come prepared with topics and updates. Keep sessions short, structured, and conversational. Reflect afterward and act on the insights gained. Over time, these discussions will sharpen your clarity about next steps and strengthen your confidence to pursue them.
Bringing it Together
When you integrate self-awareness and knowledge with mentorship, you begin to operate from authenticity rather than expectation. You no longer chase roles because you should but rather choose them because they align with who you are. That clarity becomes magnetic; it attracts the right people, projects, and opportunities.
And all of this isn’t a one-time exercise. Revisit your strengths and values as you evolve. Seek new mentors as your ambitions expand. The goal is not perfection but progress – a career that grows with you.
Stay tuned for my next blog where I’ll explore how to design your career blueprint and craft your vision into something tangible.