In the Wheel of Life and the Walk the Talk, we have been focused on 8 largely external areas of our lives. It is very important to have these areas of our life in balance and order.
Additionally important but more invisible, is what is happening on the INSIDE. I like to think about this as the leadership of ourselves and others. This is about who we are “BEING” versus what we are “DOING.” Our “being” affects our “doing.”
While we are inventorying, this is a great time to reflect on your internal strengths and identify growth opportunities. In Step 2C of the Performance Planner (page 12), the chart guides you through 4 areas to assess your internal skills, identify gaps, and prioritize growth areas for the year ahead.
This exercise helps you better understand your current capabilities and what you need to develop to achieve your goals.
Why Internal Skills Assessment Matters
This step is about building confidence and clarity around your abilities. It sets the stage for personal and professional growth.
Here is why this step is impactful:
- Clarity: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses provides a clear starting point for growth.
- Focus: Identifying skill gaps helps you prioritize what to develop for maximum impact.
- Confidence: Leveraging your strengths builds momentum and self-assurance.
How to Assess Your Internal Skills (Page 12 of the Planner)
- Score: Quickly go through the chart and score each skill on a scale of 0 (low) to 10 (high)
- Highlight: Go through and notice your top scores (i.e. 9 and 10) and highlight them in GREEN. Look at your bottom scores (i.e. 3 and 4) and highlight them PINK. Note: the number depends on where your TOP and BOTTOM scores were and essentially your top 6 highest, and bottom 6 lowest (or so).
- Reflect: Is there any pattern or similarities in the scores that were all the lowest? While we often look at strengths and what is right with us, when looking at our internal growth, we want to look at what is most likely to take us out of the game and work to upgrade those areas, so as you look at the pink areas, look at how they might be related and summarize with a theme or choose one to two skills to develop that will have the greatest impact on your ability to achieve goals.
- Plan Action Steps: Write down specific actions you will take to build these skills, such as taking a course, practicing, or seeking mentorship.
Example Reflections
- Strength: I am highly organized, which has helped me manage complex projects effectively.
- Gap: I struggle with public speaking, which has limited my ability to share ideas confidently. I will work on developing this skill by joining Toastmasters and hiring a speaking coach.
Above and Beyond
- Create a Growth Plan: Map out steps to build a specific skill, such as joining a class or setting aside practice time.
- Leverage Strengths: Identify ways to use your strengths to achieve your goals faster.
- Reflect Quarterly: Reassess your skills throughout the year to track growth and adjust priorities.
Assessing your internal skills is about being honest with yourself and taking intentional steps to grow. Spend 20-30 minutes on this exercise and start the year with a clear plan for personal and professional development.
Great work!
https://www.synergystrategies.com/performance-planner-reflect-focus-achieve/
Assess Your Balance with the Wheel of Life (Step 2A)
Assess Your Alignment: Walk the Talk (Step 2B)
