Assessing Your Skills and Experience
This post is AI-generated from the transcript of Episode 3 of my podcast. The podcast goes into more depth so please check it out!
Discovering Your Strengths: How to Thrive as a Program Founder
Hi there! Today, I want to follow up on our last episode about your “why” and dive into something equally important: understanding your experiences and your strengths.
When you’re excited about an idea—or maybe hesitant—you might feel like you don’t have the time to assess your strengths or weaknesses. Maybe you just want to dive in headfirst. I get it—I tend to do the same thing! But taking the time to reflect on your strengths is critical for long-term sustainability.
When you’re starting a new program, you often have to do all the things. You don’t have the luxury of skipping the tasks you’re less confident in. That’s true, but over time, the goal is to head toward work that energizes you and aligns with your strengths.
Why Awareness Matters
Even if you’re handling tasks outside your strengths, awareness makes a huge difference. If a particular task consistently drains or frustrates you, identifying why can help prevent burnout. Look back at your past experiences—whether professional work, volunteer work, or managing a household. Ask yourself:
Which tasks energized me?
Which tasks drained me?
What patterns do I see about where I thrive?
This doesn’t have to be a deep psychoanalysis. It can be a simple, 10-minute exercise of writing down observations and reflecting.
Later, I’ll talk about how to structure a sustainable program and match tasks to skill sets—but for now, just focus on awareness of yourself and anyone you might work with.
Tools to Understand Your Strengths
Two tools I find especially helpful are Myers-Briggs personality profiles and the Working Genius tool by Patrick Lencioni. Both give you language to describe how you naturally approach work and interact with others.
Myers-Briggs
Introvert vs. Extrovert – Do you recharge alone or through social interaction?
Intuitive vs. Sensor – Do you focus on abstract ideas or concrete details?
Thinker vs. Feeler – Do you make decisions primarily with logic or empathy?
Judger vs. Perceiver – Do you prefer structured plans or adaptability?
Working Genius
Patrick Lencioni breaks down work into six areas, forming the acronym WIDGET:
Wonder – asking questions
Invention – brainstorming solutions
Discernment – evaluating ideas
Galvanizing – motivating others
Enablement – helping make things happen
Tenacity – seeing projects through to completion
Lencioni says that most people have two areas of “genius,” two areas of competence, and two areas that frustrate them. Understanding your mix can help you leverage your strengths and delegate tasks that drain you.
For example:
If you’re an “ideas” person, brainstorming excites you, but detailed follow-through may frustrate you.
If you’re a “finisher,” you thrive on completing tasks, but ideation may feel overwhelming.
Tools like this help you know how to work in your area of strength as much as you can, outsource areas of frustration as soon as you can, and will help you communicate with your team as you understand where you each may be coming from better.
Applying This to Your Experience
Think about your past work experiences. Identify the tasks that energized you and the ones that frustrated you. Compare these observations with your Myers-Briggs type or Working Genius profile. You’ll start to see patterns that explain why certain jobs or tasks felt draining, and which ones felt life-giving.
For example:
You might be an introverted, detail-oriented “finisher.” Social brainstorming sessions could drain you, but organizing and completing projects energizes you.
Or maybe you’re an intuitive, inventive “wonderer,” energized by ideas but frustrated by day-to-day logistics.
Awareness allows you to head toward work where you thrive and surround yourself with people who complement your strengths.
Confidence in Your Strengths
Once you’ve identified your strengths, lean into them with confidence. Don’t hold back because you think you need permission or approval. Step into the work that energizes you and fill gaps with team members who complement your skills.
This awareness and confidence will help you navigate challenges, delegate effectively, and build a sustainable program.
In the next post, we’ll move into practical startup strategies for launching and running your program. For now, take some time to reflect on your past experiences and get clear on your strengths. It’s a small step that will make a huge difference.
