by Kevin Tetter

Created on: September 04, 2010

Supply and demand is a relatively simple concept, but the implementation can take on a complexity that can profoundly affect an individual. Normally used in economics on a macroeconomic scale, supply and demand can be applied on a microeconomic scale as well, all the way down to the individual.

Assessing your supply-side potential can be broken down into steps that can reveal both strengths and weaknesses. Being able to objectively assess your strengths will allow you to apply them to appropriate areas, especially in the business world. At the same time, identifying your weaknesses will allow you to compensate for them, and perhaps even eliminate them over time. So how do you get an accurate assessment of your potential?

Start with what you know you can do. List every relevant job you have ever had. Each one of those jobs had specific requirements to be fulfilled. If you were able to meet those requirements, then list them as an asset. Be sure to list what you were unable to fulfill, or were unable to do well at the job as well. Comparing the two lists will help you assess your potential in similar circumstances. Then list specific skills associated with that job. These could be speaking, writing, or manual labor skills that were needed on a daily basis, but not specifically defined in the job description. Again, recognizing what was lacking in skills should be juxtaposed for an overall view. Now a picture should be emerging as to what your potential could be. But you can add to that by listing things you do well that may not have been applied in your work history. Nearly everyone has some kind of talent or latent ability that just waiting to be tapped. Looking at what you like to do or what you have been asked to do in the past is a good way to find these abilities.

Conscious self evaluation is an excellent way to define your potential, but you can tap objective help from friends and co-workers as well. In fact, they may be more willing to point out your deficiencies than you are. Take it as constructive criticism, and make the assessment as to whether they are legitimate. In the end, it is you that will make the ultimate assessment, but input from others can be valuable in that you may have something brought to your attention that you never saw as an asset because it was so natural.

The key is being honest in your assessment. Knowing what your potential is will allow you to go boldly into any situation you choose, with the confidence to handle whatever it may be.

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