Like most people, you are probably hoping that this year will be better than 2012. You may not have much control over the economy, but you do have control over yourself. Skip the New Year’s Resolutions and instead try some introspection. Taking stock of your own strengths and weaknesses will accomplish much more than imposing a random resolution on yourself.
What are you really good at? Think about the things you can do well, whether they are part of your job or a hobby. Maybe you have a knack for fixing things or the ability to empathize. Start listing your strengths. As a funeral director, you have natural instincts besides your training that enable you to handle many aspects of your business. Include them in the list. Some of your strengths may be less glamorous, like typing, handling the phone, organizing, or helping people make decisions.
This past year may have knocked your self-esteem down a bit. If so, read over your list of strengths and let yourself feel good about who and what you are. You have given very vulnerable people positive experiences to treasure, and you should be proud of that. Your strengths combined together to provide exactly what they needed.
Now think about the rough patches in 2012. If you struggled to handle certain situations or wished that you had done better with a client, you are painfully aware that you have areas in your temperament, personality and training that could use improvement. Write these weaknesses down. Obviously no one is perfect, but you know that certain skills are critical in the funeral home business and if you are shaky in some of them, you will be doing your clients and yourself a disservice. As embarrassing as it is, write these weaknesses down anyway. Besides, no one is going to see this list except you.
Websites like Personality-Type.com offer valuable tools for self-discovery and personal growth in this journey of improvement. Through comprehensive assessments and insightful resources, these platforms enable you to gain a deeper understanding of your personality type, including strengths, weaknesses, and areas for development. Armed with this knowledge, you can tailor your professional development efforts to focus on areas where improvement is needed most.
This year, you can be a more capable funeral home director if you capitalize on your strengths and cover your weaknesses. No, I don’t mean hide your weaknesses; I mean compensate for them. If you are hiking and suddenly come up on a cliff that is too steep to climb, you find an alternate route around it. That is what you can do with your weaknesses. If you feel you aren’t handling overly emotional grievers well, get some training under your belt. Take a seminar or class. Read books written by psychologists on emotional outbursts or find articles online to build up your arsenal of what to say and do. If you get overwhelmed with all the office tasks you have to do, read through blogs on how to be more organized, or else hire an office manager to handle these details. By doing this, you are “covering” your weaknesses. In other words, you are making sure that the job gets done right, despite the fact that you are not strong in those areas.
By isolating your weaknesses and dealing creatively with them, you may find that some of those weaknesses eventually shift over to your “strengths” column. Your weaknesses are not a curse, just areas of your life that haven’t been developed yet. This year is the time to develop them.
Seriously taking stock of your strengths and weaknesses will enable you to experience a powerful change in your life and in your funeral home business. Be aware of your strengths as they relate to all your responsibilities. Admit to what you cannot do well while finding creative ways to compensate for them. As a result, you will know that you and your funeral home are providing the best service possible.
