Talking about personal, social and professional development is indisputably falling into the areas of opportunity that are presented, or that we can promote to achieve objectives.
On a personal level, if we do not know each other properly, we are badly influenced and we tend to make mistakes that harm us in the future, this logically is related to professional and social development that as human beings we can have.
An area of opportunity is that gap that opens and that generates for us, as its word says, an “opportunity” of something in particular. It is a phrase that they have positioned to mention "politically adequate", those points that need to be strengthened. That is, the weaknesses that can be strengthened to reverse them and make potential progress out of them.
In principle, it is essential that to improve or change something in our behavior we must recognize that it exists and how it hurts us. Valuing of course the virtues, but being clear about the flaws in order to turn them into an area of opportunity.
How to recognize an area of opportunity?
The first step, according to psychology, is to differentiate our mistakes, to know where we are failing, but above all to understand and see it from another perspective. The error should not be taken as a defect that comes to stay, rather to take learning from there.
If we see that we have failed, that immediately translates into not understanding that it is possible to learn from there, a situation that can occur if we see it from the point of view of error, since making mistakes can make us notice that despite what happened we have the ability to improve. That builds us confidence and from it derives the intention to move forward.
After identifying the fault, we have to accept it, which is not the same. Sometimes, it is difficult for us to recognize that we are really erring on a certain topic, even if for a long time we thought we were doing it well.
In this process we are moving towards the transformation of that weakness and we glimpse how it becomes an area of opportunity, enhancing that defect and taking advantage of it to obtain then A skill. We can perform a comparative analysis of the ideal situation and the real situation, this can be achieved by taking into account certain indicators that will give us a sketch of the scenario, and then determine the actions to be carried out, that is, make an action plan.
Areas of opportunity can hold back performance
As has already been said before, it is important to know ourselves in order to determine both our strengths and our weaknesses. If we do not work on these weaknesses, the impediment of reach our creative potential and therefore the success that we long for.
Without these possibilities for improvement, we fall into the vicious circle of discouragement, slowing down our performance, which prevents us from growing and continuing to advance towards the goal.
For this reason, the rquick and adequate actuation on these "weaknesses" that not only can affect the good personal development, but also directly affects the work part.
When in an interview they ask you your weaknesses
If we usually find it difficult for ourselves to identify and acknowledge our failures, speak them in public even more, especially when it comes to a job interview in which we want to meet.
It can generate anxiety and even anguish for not knowing exactly what or how to respond. The ideal is to only talk about the areas of opportunity in the labor aspect, since some are not related to the personal area, but then include a phrase of something that is being executed to correct or prevent that situation.
For example: if you are very distracted You can mention it and ensure that you are setting standards that avoid being distracted while you are on work hours. That will speak well of you, since it shows that you not only recognize that weakness but also work on it.
If you are an entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship has become a profitable option to get ahead, despite the setbacks that may arise, we decided to take an initiative and head towards it. We create in our mind and put into operation the plan that will give us success.
To start we must be willing to take risks and there they start to execute our skills, attitudes, aptitudes, confidence, among other aspects such as that visionary vein. However, it is common in ventures that are generated in excess the areas of opportunity, so that to undertake it is necessary to enhance many aspects, these are divided into tangible and intangible but always with possibilities for improvement. Such as the furniture you use and the one you need.
In a company
In an established company the areas of opportunity are probably not the same as an entrepreneur may have. Here are presented weaknesses in sales, in the positioning of the product, the competition that the company faces, the management that it has been carrying out and even the internal communication between the employees themselves.
It is therefore important to differentiate the challenges you face and study what the possible solutions may be, taking into account the elements that influence the process.
Specifying areas of opportunity in companies can be mentioned:
- Low sales
- Relationship between employees
- Feedback between the company and customers
- Image that you have in front of clients and in front of the same employees
- Decline of the product or service offered
It may also occur, after so much, the economic deficiency to cover operating expenses, a weakness that most entrepreneurs have, but it is common in some companies that by not attacking in advance certain errors the point is reached where sales are so low that they cannot even cover basic needs, such as employee pay.
This is where the importance of recognizing these areas of opportunity in time and working to improve them lies.
On the personal side
There are certain behaviors that can influence us both at work and in the personal sphere, these can be:
- Being too demanding
- Or too sensitive
- Procrastinate (delay activities)
- Talk too much
- Overly suspicious
- Show a lack of assertiveness
- Lack of social tact
Different types of learning and what they influence
To delve into the issue of recognizing these weaknesses, we can understand what the types of learning are about and how they can influence certain aspects.
- Learning know: It is when we learn concepts or facts, it is carried out through theories.
- Learning to do: it is about procedures, techniques, processes and methods. They are acquired through practice.
- Learning to be: they are the attitudes, values and norms that we get to internalize through the interaction and the affective within our circle.
When we understand the different types of learning, we can implement efficient actions for the type of weakness that is occurring, whether it is personal, or if it is a business or a company.
Why are strengths and abilities important?
Just as it is important to recognize our areas of opportunity, it is also essential to have clear strengths that we have and the skills we have, this can help us help stabilize the positive and negative traits.
For this there are certain techniques, you can make a list where those areas in which we consider ourselves strong are pointed out. Or ask someone close to you, sometimes we have positive actions that we do not recognize as such. By identifying all of the above, you will be able to give your best, to strengthen your areas of opportunity and optimize your strengths and abilities.