Stand Out: Discover What Makes You Unique

One way to figure out what makes you unique is to ask yourself this question. Is it your sense of humor, your kindness, or maybe it’s your creativity? Do you know what makes you unique? The answer to the question “who am I” is at the core of what makes us unique.

We’ve all tried the tests, challenges, and questions to jump-start knowing ourselves. We’ve created some great quizzes on our resources page.

Do you want to be known as someone who elevates other people to be their best? Do you want to be known for your tenacity or your ability to relate to almost anyone?

Is your creativity and wild spirit what you want to be known for? Is being a great, approachable leader your goal or do you want to be known as someone who dreams big?

Finding the Core of Your Uniqueness

Another way to figure out your uniqueness is to write down your most noticeable qualities. Think about your colleagues, friends, and others. What would they write about you in a letter of recommendation? Be optimistic, objective, positive, and honest.

Uniqueness Finding Prompts

Still, having trouble? Use these 3 prompts to start the process. Address each of these points along with examples of each one.

1. The way you think
2. The way you treat others
3. The things you create/produce

8 Steps to Find Your Uniqueness

Are you still having trouble coming up with your uniqueness? Follow these 8 steps to help you figure out what you’re best known for.

1. Think about the skills that have helped you in every area of your life. What tasks did you do well? Which ones were the most enjoyable? What challenged you? What did each of them have in common- the skills or tasks?
2. What activities or skills make you feel empowered? What tasks do you do when you are overwhelmed and just want to feel like you are in control?
3. Focus on what comes naturally to you. Don’t overlook your natural talents. They are a clue to what you’re known for.
4. Delve into your favorite hobbies. What do you do in your free time?
5. Explore what you did as a child. Think about the things you did for fun, what activities you enjoyed doing, or hobbies you spent time on.
6. Ask other people what they know you best for.
7. Look for patterns in the things you do, your actions, and your reactions. What ties them all together? Find their relationship with each other. Kindness, leadership abilities, and being a talented writer make you a compassionate communicator in management, for example.
8. Keep an open mind while you explore what makes you unique. Don’t dismiss aspects you never considered a strength- they are what make you unique.

Take the time to really look at what makes you unique. Each strength, skill, talent, weakness, and aspect is what makes up the core of who you are. Once you know what these parts are, you know how to use them to put forth the real you. 

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