Out of all the talents, the Enthusiasts may be the easiest to identify because they are often the most prominent, both in terms of their verbal contributions to any conversations as well as their bubbly and their ability to create laughter around them.  Enthusiasts may not be complete optimists but their vibrant personality often misleads people into thinking so. Nevertheless, Enthusiasts are often the people that one turns to when they need a listening ear or just wants to lighten up, besides the Nurturers.

They also have an ability to turn mundane things and activities into interesting endeavours.  They make work enjoyable and are often able to see the positive side of things. It’s almost impossible not to be affected by the positive vibes  of Enthusiasts. Thus, Enthusiasts often have the privilege of being asked to be the team player who gel people together. This is because most Enthusiasts have the ability to communicate with most individuals of diverse personalities. 

Because Enthusiasts are spontaneous, they are often individuals who like variety. Hence, Enthusiasts are also among the individuals who will often pursue the latest trends and look for the latest technical gadgets in town. This tendency might not be true for all Enthusiasts but it does illustrate the fact that Enthusiasts are individuals who like changes and have fun at the same time.

This desire to have fun is actually a weakness of Enthusiasts, as they often do not have a tendency to take on heavy responsibilities. As taking on responsibility means tackling tasks with intense seriousness, Enthusiasts have a tendency to steer away from it. However, with encouragement from friends, Enthusiasts might just overcome this psychological barrier. 

Unlike the Nurturers who accommodate others, the Reformers are the complete opposite.  They do not back down easily when they have made a decision, even in the face of intense opposition.  Nevertheless, Reformers will still often abide by any existing hierarchical structures.

While this may seem like a weakness (since individuals who challenge others directly usually suffer a severe backlash), this is – in fact- a strength. Why is this so? This is because the Reformers are not easily swayed by the opinions of others and hence, are often able to carve out their own paths in life. While the Nurturers’ accommodating and caring nature often win the affection of others and hence attract friends to them, the Reformers’ attributes and antics usually ensure the fulfillments of their life goals. They are almost always immune to any form of distractions and external opinions, leaving them with the freedom and flexibility to pursue their own dreams. 

Reformers also have their principles, and they usually adhere to these principles very rigidly and stringently. They impose a very high standard both for others and themselves. And Reformers can be very hard on themselves if there’s a breach of this principles.  For example, if Reformers value punctuality, they will ensure that they will make it to the meeting venue before the prearranged meeting time. And they will expect others to do the same. If Reformers are late, they can be very harsh on themselves.  The good thing about this trait of theirs is that through this personality, Reformers develop discipline and order, both in themselves and others.

In the world of the Reformers, there are only two colours: black and white. There are no gray areas. It’s either that one is right, or one is wrong. Consider a scenario whereby Reformers realise that their best friend is cheating. While most of us will take some time to consider the ethical decision of reporting the cheating case, Reformers will not hesitate to report their friend to the teacher with minimal consideration, and feel that it is the perfectly right thing to do.  

As the name implies, Reformers always strive for perfection in everything they do. They find satisfaction in perfection, even when such endeavours take a serious toll on their health, time and friendships. In their world, there are no flaws, and no mistakes. And they are definitely no rooms for error.

These characteristics make Reformers very meticulous individuals, thus making them suitable for certain professions, as follows:

• Detective
• Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
• Disciplinarian
• Lawyer
• Judge
• Military profession

It can thus be observed that each talent has their own strengths and weaknesses.   But this is to be expected. And this is also the reason why team work (consisting of different personalities and hence talents) are often preferred over the solitary contribution of an individual (regardless of his or her ability).

In the midst of a class discussion, it suddenly dawned upon me that for all the renowned people of various professions in the world, almost all of them have a style.  So, what is a style? I define it as “something that makes you stand out from the rest”. In a society where conformity seems to be the norm, sometimes it seems that the world is calling out for individualism. While it’s advisable to conform to the corporate culture of the workplace so that a harmonious environment is created, I feel that we should develop a style that we can call our own when it comes to the things that we do best.

Just look at the famous people in the world. Almost all of them have their own style.  Writers such as horror writer Stephen King (”Christine”) and romance writer Nicholas Sparks (”Message in a bottle”, “The Notebook”) have their own signatures in their works. Singers such as Mick Jagger have their own unique vocals. Famous dancers often dance to their own choreographed moves as well.  The factor that differentiates them from the rest in terms of abilities is what I call a “style”.

Just take a look at your journals and I can identify the writing style of yours. Do note that style is something that is consistent through the years and it seldom changes.  Even if it does, it’s more of a progression than a regression.   It will be great if you are able to identify your strengths and see if your interest lies there as well. If you have interest in a particular strength of yours, then it will be terrific if you are able to develop your own style in this area. This will enable you to differentiate yourself from others and make you stand out.

So, when it comes to your strengths where you have an interest, what’s your style?