Why does my weakness matter

Often I have to tell people what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear. This doesn't come naturally to me. I've known for years that this is a special challenge of mine, so I give a lot of attention to my feedback style. I prepare thoroughly before delivering constructive criticism; I make sure it's backed up with examples or research if needed. Sometimes I even practice out loud how I want to say it, so I can speak with more confidence. To be clear, the answer above is not 'what you're supposed to say' to answer this question.

There is no 'what you're supposed to say'. This is an example of what one person might come up with, based on self-reflection and feedback from others.

Truth be told, it's an honest assessment of one of my greatest weaknesses. Your answer will and should look totally different; it should fit your personality and experiences. Most of all, it should be honest.

Most people hate this question because they're not in the habit of trying to make themselves better--which is exactly why this question can be helpful. If you're afraid of putting yourself out there in front of a total stranger, just remember: The person who will benefit most from this answer is you. And that's why, whether you're looking for a new job or you're already your own boss, the answer to this question is invaluable.

Top Stories. These same individuals often reject your intentions. If you find that you have such a weakness,why not turn this into a strength and use your nurturing instincts toward those who can benefit from them? For example, you can volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home and help people who truly want your help.

In addition to doing a tremendous service for individuals who will be glad to accept your help and attention, you will be raising your own self esteem as you find those willing to accept your desire to nurture them. Some women are shopaholics. If your weakness is a compulsion to shop, you already know the havoc it can play upon your financial situation.

Offer to shop for the elderly or sick. This way you can get the benefit of doing something that you truly enjoy while helping other individuals who dislike this chore. They can give you a list of what they need, you can go to the store and purchase the items and bring them the receipt.

Are you a clean freak? Do you feel that everything in your home must be perfect? Many people including me suffer from this weakness that stems from a need to control their environment. My moment of weakness was recognized when my friends began calling me "Joan Crawford.

If you feel the compulsion to always have everything in your home perfect, why not offer to help a neighbor clean her home or start a business in personal organizing? In my case, I cleaned the home of a friend after she returned from the hospital. Use your human flaws to help others. Those who like to be in charge, love too much, have an overwhelming desire to nurture others at the cost of themselves, or find themselves performing compulsive behaviors such as over-shopping and over-cleaning can turn this around to help other people who will appreciate their efforts.

In this way, you will turn your weaknesses into strengths. Obviously, if you have a short temper, poor listening skills, or a nagging problem, it may be hard to use these traits for good. You may have more luck focusing on your strengths while working to improve these personal weaknesses in the background. The key to overcoming these weaknesses is to recognize them for what they are and be aware of them at all times.

If you find that you have a lack of patience, be aware of this trait and try to realize that you are not the only person in the store waiting in line or not the only driver on the road. Take a few deep breaths and relax.

If you find yourself in line at a grocery store and the person in front of you is paying for each item individually and in pennies, take a deep breath. Refocus your mind on something more pleasant, such as when you will plan another dinner party or where you can take your children on the weekend. Are you a poor listener? Do you find yourself doing most of the talking with friends and family?

Get a kitchen timer and put it next to the phone. The next time you find yourself in a conversation with a friend, turn on the timer and see how long you can go without talking about yourself. Focus on what the person on the other end of the line finds important. You should also turn on the timer when you begin talking about yourself. Observe the difference between how long you listen and how long you talk.

Do you constantly find yourself nagging your children and husband to do things? This is a weakness. Particularly if you are screaming the requests constantly, such as "clean your room! This is much more effective and works better than shouting.

A short temper can do a lot of harm. It makes you say things that you cannot take back. Many people, myself included, suffer from this weakness. One way to overcome a short temper is to find a place either in your mind or in your house that is your "peaceful place.

While expressing outward stress or frustration over missed deadlines can be considered a weakness, employers value workers that place importance on deadlines and strive to keep projects within the planned timeline. Each candidate has areas to improve upon in their expertise. A few common areas people need experience in include:. Lack of confidence is a common weakness, especially among entry-level contributors. Experiencing a lack of confidence can sometimes cause inefficiencies in your work.

For example, you might feel unqualified to speak up at an important meeting when your idea could help the team to achieve a goal. While being humble when working with others can be helpful, it is also necessary to maintain a certain amount of confidence to do your job at an optimal level.

If this is the weakness you choose to present in your interview, emphasize why you value confidence, your understanding of the value you offer, and ways you have practiced displaying confidence in the workplace even when you might not always feel it. It has been helpful for me to keep a running document of the impact I have made on my team and at my organization to better understand why I should be confident about the skills and unique talents I bring to the table.

I have also made it a point to voice my ideas and opinions during meetings when I feel they are appropriate and will add value to the conversation. Asking for help is a necessary skill both when you are lacking expertise in a certain area and when you are feeling burned out or cannot handle your workload. Knowing when and how to ask for help shows strong self-awareness and helps the organization by getting ahead of a possible inefficiency.

While having a strong work ethic and being independent are positive qualities, the business should know when to ask for help. If you know it has been difficult to ask for help in the past, explain why you know it is beneficial and the ways you have tried to improve this skill.

I have learned that it is much more beneficial both for me and the business to reach out when I do not understand something or feel burned out with my workload. I also understand that many experts around me have specific knowledge and skills that can make my work better.

While I am still working on it, I have been able to produce more high-quality work as a result of getting help from those around me. Even the most flexible people can have trouble working with others that have certain characteristics or personality traits. Having good teamwork skills also means having a strong awareness of how you work with others and ways you can adjust your approach to better serve the organization.

If this has been a weakness of yours in the past, explain the personality types you have had trouble working with and quickly identify the reasons why. Then discuss the ways you have adjusted your communication or work style to better work towards a common goal together. While I understand diversity in personalities makes a business strong, I tend to quiet my own ideas and opinions around louder colleagues. To combat this, I have made it a point to spend more time with colleagues I feel uncomfortable working with.