How do you use your talents? Your answer is probably something along the lines of, “I use them to do my job every day, of course.” Or you might say, “I use them to pursue my passions.” Both answers are certainly warranted, but what if there’s a greater purpose for the talents we have? How about using them, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of others?
Helping each other grow is one of the most important things we can do in life. And while there are lots of ways to support those around you, sharing your talents is definitely the most rewarding. Here are a few simple ways you can do it!
Share what you're passionate about.
Do you have a love of public speaking? That’s great (and rare!)—offer to give somebody else some pointers in this area. Are you a big fan of organizing groups and projects? Awesome—take someone under your wing and show them the ropes!
There’s nothing better than watching that lightbulb go on when someone finally gets what you’re trying to teach them. It’s also really cool to watch them thrive in that area and influence others in the same way you influenced them. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to have any previous teaching or leadership experience to make this happen. All it takes is passion for what you’re doing and a desire to help others succeed!
Look for opportunities to be helpful.
Helping others improve sounds great, but maybe you feel like you just don’t have the time. Does that mean that you have to give up sharing your talents with others altogether? Not at all! If you look around, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to use your gifts to help people every day. Here are ways you can be helpful in 10 minutes or less:
- If you’re good at using a computer, help someone who’s not as tech-savvy navigate their desktop.
- Do you have great leadership skills? Give someone recommendations of leadership development books that have helped you succeed.
- Are you an eternal optimist? Compliment someone! Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is simply share a kind word.
These simple examples prove that sharing your talents is possible whether you have all the time in the world, or just a few extra minutes to spare. Going out of your way to help someone else improve, or even just to make their day a little brighter, could make all the difference to them.
Use your resources ... and keep learning!
By adopting a “lifelong learner” mentality, you’ll realize that you have even more talents to share with those around you! How cool is that? With technology being such a prominent part of life these days, we really do have the world at our fingertips. So, take advantage of these learning materials:
- Subscribe to a motivating blog.
- Watch YouTube™ videos on topics that fascinate you.
- Find a podcast that helps you learn new things.
No matter how much you know, there’s always room to learn even more. Use your resources and become as knowledgeable in your field as you can!
Everyone has something unique that they bring to the table. But while it’s important that you work on developing your skills for yourself, it’s also important that you bring others along on your journey. That’s what truly makes our talents meaningful.
