Unleashing Your Inner Greatness: A Guide to Discovering Your Unique Superpowers

We all have unique skills and capabilities that we bring into the teams and organizations we participate in. However, we often overly rely on those that we’ve acquired through school or training. I believe there is much more that we can tap into that has been developed through our unique lived experience to stand out and make an impact. Once you find these superpowers, you are able to operate in the special zone where your uniqueness can thrive. 

But where do you find your superpower? 

As with any superhero, you have to go back to your origin story. 

Here is a five step guide to finding your what makes you special:

1. Discover your passion: What do you CARE about?

Every superhero has a cause that propels them to greatness. Similarly, your deepest passions and values fuel your unique contributions to the world. It's not just about the skills you've honed over the years; it's about what makes your heart beat faster and gives your work purpose.

Actionable Tips:

• List What Moves You: Take a moment to write down topics, issues, or values that deeply resonate with you. Don't self-edit—let everything flow.

• Identify Your Heart's Core: Look at your list and identify the top three items that evoke the strongest emotional response. These are likely the areas where your passions truly lie.

• Connect Passion with Impact: For each of the top three, brainstorm how they have influenced your decisions, actions, or way of thinking in the past. How could they shape your future contributions?

Expert Insight:

"Passion is the genesis of genius," says Tony Robbins, emphasizing that the most groundbreaking ideas and movements stem from personal passion. When you align your work with what you genuinely care about, you unlock a level of creativity and dedication that can't be replicated through skill alone.

1. Uncover your relational superpower: When do you feel most CONNECTED to other people?

The moments when we feel deeply connected to others often reveal our relational superpowers. These are the times when our empathy, listening skills, and ability to engage shine brightest, creating a profound impact on those around us. Understanding these moments can help us foster stronger relationships and build communities that thrive.

Actionable Tips:

• Reflect on Connection Moments: Think back to a recent time when you felt a strong connection with someone. What was happening? Where were you? What topics were you discussing?

• Identify Common Themes: Are there specific environments, topics, or activities that consistently emerge when you feel connected? These patterns can clue you into the settings or subjects where your ability to connect is amplified.

• Plan to Engage: Based on your insights, identify one action you can take this week to recreate those conditions of connection, whether it's initiating a deep conversation with a friend or attending a community event related to a topic you're passionate about.

Expert Insight:

Brené Brown, a renowned researcher on vulnerability and connection, highlights the power of vulnerability in creating bonds: "Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection." This insight encourages us to embrace openness and authenticity as tools for deeper connection.

1. Harnessing your inner strength: When are you your most CONFIDENT?

Confidence isn't just a feeling; it's a state of being that we enter when we're in our element. It's when our skills, experience, and passions align perfectly with the task at hand, allowing us to act with conviction and authority. Identifying these moments of confidence can help us understand our strengths and how to leverage them more effectively.

Actionable Tips:

• Reflect on Your Confidence Peaks: Recall the last few times you felt truly confident. What were you doing? Who were you with? What factors contributed to your confidence?

• Analyze the Ingredients: Look for common elements in these experiences. Is it expertise in a certain area, recognition from peers, or perhaps the thrill of a challenge that boosts your confidence?

• Create a Confidence Blueprint: Based on your analysis, outline what your ideal confident scenario looks like. Use this as a guide to replicate these conditions in future situations where you might need a confidence boost.

Expert Insight: 

Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist known for her research on body language and confidence, emphasizes the role of "power poses" in feeling more confident. She suggests, "Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes." This idea supports the notion that confidence can be cultivated through mindful practices and self-awareness.

1. Identifying your impact: What areas do you CONTRIBUTE the most value? 

Value isn't just about the tasks we complete; it's about the unique impact we create in our environments. Whether it's through leading with empathy, innovating solutions, or empowering others, the areas where we contribute the most value often align with our core strengths and passions. Recognizing these areas can guide us to where we can make the most significant and fulfilling contributions.

Actionable Tips:

• Inventory Your Contributions: List out significant contributions you've made in various settings—work, community, personal projects. What were the outcomes of these contributions?

• Analyze Your Impact: For each contribution, identify what specifically about your approach or skill set made a difference. Was it your leadership style, your technical expertise, or perhaps your ability to mediate and bring people together?

• Map Your Value Zones: Look for patterns in where and how you've made the most impact. These are your "value zones"—areas where your contributions naturally flourish.

Expert Insight:

Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, once said, "Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader." Nooyi's perspective sheds light on the intrinsic value of inspiring leadership—highlighting the impact of empathy, vision, and the ability to rally people around a common goal. She exemplifies how understanding the unique value you provide, particularly in leadership, can inspire others and drive success.

1. Embrace your unique edge: What spaces are you COMFORTABLE when others are uncomfortable? 

There are moments in life and work where our unique lived experiences equip us with an unparalleled comfort amidst situations that might unsettle others. This isn't just about being unphased by challenges; it's about recognizing that our distinct journeys have honed skills, resilience, and perspectives that allow us to thrive where others may hesitate. Whether it's navigating high-pressure environments, tackling complex problems, or leading through uncertainty, the spaces where you find your calm amidst the storm are a testament to your unique capabilities and strengths. Identifying and embracing these zones not only sets you apart but also showcases your ability to leverage your lived experience into a superpower that can guide, influence, and inspire.

Actionable Tips:

• Reflect on Your Comfort Zones: Recall instances where you felt at ease in situations that seemed to overwhelm others. What were these scenarios? What made you feel comfortable?

• Identify the Source: Analyze what about you—be it your skills, experiences, or personal traits—enabled you to be comfortable in these situations. Is it your ability to stay calm under pressure, your quick problem-solving skills, or perhaps your empathy in understanding and navigating social dynamics?

• Leverage Your Unique Comfort: Consider how you can apply this unique comfort in uncomfortable spaces to current or future challenges. How can it serve as a strength in your personal and professional growth?

Expert Insight:

Dr. Ivan Joseph, a renowned leadership consultant and author, often highlights the power of self-confidence and persistence in his teachings. Drawing from his extensive experience in coaching and leadership, Dr. Joseph shares, "The skill of self-confidence is developed through embracing and overcoming adversity. It's in those moments, when others might shy away, that our true potential is tested and our resilience is built. Our unique experiences, especially those that challenge us, equip us with the ability to remain composed and focused when faced with similar challenges in the future."

Harnessing Your Superpowers: A Journey of Self-Discovery

As we journey through the exploration of our unique skills and capabilities, from identifying what we care deeply about to recognizing where we contribute the most value, and understanding our comfort in uncomfortable spaces, it's clear that our superpowers are deeply intertwined with our personal experiences and perspectives. These insights not only highlight our individuality but also underline the importance of embracing and sharing our full selves in the environments we navigate.

As you reflect on your own superpowers, consider how your unique journey has equipped you to make a distinctive impact. The real magic happens when you not only identify but also fully embrace and leverage your personal strengths and experiences. By doing so, you unlock the potential to not just succeed but to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you to explore their own paths of self-discovery.

Together, let's celebrate the diversity of our experiences and the strength they bring to our collective endeavors. Your story has power—embrace it, share it, and watch as it inspires a wave of authenticity and resilience in your community and beyond.