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What’s Your Superpower?

Jan 20th, 2010 by Val Nelson

superpowerIf you fill out the Google user profile, you’ll see that alongside the blanks for your name and website address  is a blank for “Your Superpower.”

What would you put? If you don’t know, it’s worth deciding.

When I talk about superpowers, I’m talking about what makes you special. Everyone has something that makes them stand out. In order to excel in your work or get that job offer, you better know what makes you unique.

How To Find Your Superpower

You probably minimize your superpower because it comes so naturally to you that you could do it in your sleep. But other people struggle with it. What’s the thing you can do that seems so easy to you but that seems to amaze others? Mapping out a big project? Helping people feel deeply understood? (You have more than one superpower.)

Think about it. Better yet, ask others what they would say is a unique talent of yours. They can see it better than you can.

Another way to discover your superpowers is to take a personality test (such as Myers-Briggs) to see where you excel. For instance, if you find out you’re an introvert, you’ll learn how they are amazing at cutting to the heart of the matter.

I figured out my superpowers with my coach. I’ve decided to write my superpowers on the back of my new business card. Isn’t that what people really want to know before they hire you? They want to know “what makes you so special?” Be ready to tell them.

Clarifying your superpower(s) is a great way to define your personal brand. The buzzword for 2010 is personal branding. Branding isn’t just for businesses and entrepreneurs anymore, it’s for every individual who wants to earn a living.

My Superpowers

As drafted for my new business card, here they are:

  • Uncovering and mobilizing your superpowers!
  • Bringing our hearts to online and offline communications.
  • Making networking fun – even for introverts!
  • Getting to Aha and Aaaaah – today.

(Update: you can see the final list I used on my business cards here.)

Your Turn!

Are you ready to say what some of your superpowers are in the comments box below? It’s OK to tell us. It can be a brief rough draft. No one will hold you to it. Try it on.

And  for extra credit… now that you know one or more of your superpowers, consider whether you’re using them to their potential!

Recommended Resources About Personal Branding

Resources for Discovering and Activating Your Inner Superhero


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Posted in Bringing Our Hearts to Work, Heart-Centered Marketing

  • matthewcornell

    I love it! I wrote a similar article a while back from the productivity perspective: The Personal Productivity Encyclopedia Of Superhero Powers: http://matthewcornell.org/2008/12/the-personal-…

  • http://www.valnelson.com/ Val Nelson

    Thanks Matt. Love your post. What a useful resource. I added it to the resources list in this post.

  • debdunham

    Love this! The idea of identifying your superpowers does more than help to clarify your strengths. It empowers you to own your strengths. Would love to pass this idea onto the tweens I work with!
    As for my superpower….helping people feel really good about themselves!

  • http://www.valnelson.com/ Val Nelson

    Good point Deb. Owning our strengths is such an important part of being able to mobilize our strengths. They say awareness is half the battle.

    Your work with tweens and parents on self-esteem sounds great. So does your book on that topic: Tween You and Me
    http://trueinnerstrength.com/book.php

    Thanks for chiming in.

  • http://www.gardensofdelight.net/ julie

    you are too cool for words

  • kathiebrown

    One of my superpowers (I know we're supposed to pick one) is getting high school students who have learning and attitude challenges to be productive in the English classroom. I'm not sure how to shorten that, but if I wasn't so exhausted from all that superhero work today, I might be able to.

    It requires the use of many skills simultaneously: concise knowledge of the reading or writing goal (big and small picture), empathy for the individual student's challenges, careful listening and careful observation. Add to that a huge bag of tricks to choose from at any given moment and the belief that this is very important work. Oh yes, and patience and humor. How would I say that more concisely?

  • http://www.valnelson.com/ Val Nelson

    Hi Kathie. Now that IS a superpower for sure. I think the only concise way to put it is Wonder Woman!!

  • kathiebrown

    One of my superpowers (I know we're supposed to pick one) is getting high school students who have learning and attitude challenges to be productive in the English classroom. I'm not sure how to shorten that, but if I wasn't so exhausted from all that superhero work today, I might be able to.

    It requires the use of many skills simultaneously: concise knowledge of the reading or writing goal (big and small picture), empathy for the individual student's challenges, careful listening and careful observation. Add to that a huge bag of tricks to choose from at any given moment and the belief that this is very important work. Oh yes, and patience and humor. How would I say that more concisely?

  • http://www.valnelson.com/ Val Nelson

    Hi Kathie. Now that IS a superpower for sure. I think the only concise way to put it is Wonder Woman!!

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