niche \ nich\ n 1. a place, employment, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted FADP 2012-2013 Deb Nelson Dunbar, University Director Organizational Development, University Human Resource Services Indiana University 400 E. 7 th Street, Poplars 106 Bloomington, IN 47405 dnelson@indiana.edu 812.855.4104 1
Does Your Job Fit You Like a Glove? My personality style is: Given your personality style, what about your current position feels like your niche has been found? Functional Aspects Environmental Aspects or Are You a Square Peg Working at a Round Hole?? What aspects of your current position are not a good fit? 2
Value Clues Accomplishment Adventure Affection Approval Friendships Challenge Competition Learning Faith Family Freedom Health Financial Security Integrity Loyalty Order Relationships Independence Relaxation Recognition Prestige Power Excitement Nature Security Self-Acceptance Spirituality Wealth Wisdom Pleasure Newness/Change Self-Development Describe a work environment that is consistent with your values: Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent. -Let Your Life Speak 3
Passion and Interest Clues List energizers: List drainers: Does your work further some interest or issue that you care deeply about? Yes Don t know No Comments: Do you see yourself, through your work, as making a difference in the world? Yes Don t know No Comments: Do you view most work days with a sense of enthusiasm? Yes Don t know No Comments: What issues or causes move you? What problems in the world do you think need to be solved? What do you obsess about? What are your hobbies? How do you love to spend your free time? What is "play" for you? Passion defined: The irresistible stirrings from within, like small inner voices nudging us, saying: Use me; Set me free. -Passion for Life 4
Goof Clues Each of us arrives here with a nature, which means both limits and potentials. We can learn as much about our nature by running into our limits as by experiencing our potentials. -Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer List your limits as you know them based on your failures, slammed doors, and burnout experiences. 5
Talent and Skill Clues Realistic Building Things Fixing Things Growing Things Making Things Work Shaping Environments Solving Problems Investigative Advancing Ideas Analyzing Information Discovering Resources Investigating Things Getting to the Heart of Matters Making Connections Putting the Pieces Together Researching Things Translating Things Social Awakening Spirit Bringing Joy Building Relationships Creating Dialogue Creating Trust Facilitating Change Getting Participation Giving Care Healing Wounds Helping Overcome Obstacles Instructing People Resolving Disputes Conventional Doing the Numbers Getting Things Right Operating Things Organizing Things Processing Things Straightening Things Up Enterprising Bringing Out Potential Empowering Others Exploring the Way Making Deals Managing Things Opening Doors Persuading People Selling Intangibles Starting Things Artistic Adding Humor Breaking Molds Creating Things Composing Themes Designing Things Moving Through Space Performing Events Seeing Possibilities Seeing the Big Picture Writing Things (From: Whistle While Your Work, Richard Leider and David Shapiro) List 5 talents and skills that fit you from the list above (or others.) Which one seems to be the best fit? Which talent or skill have you consistently shared with others? If you were forced to pick just one, which one would it be? 6
Know Your Niche Putting It All Together Describe in your own words what you consider to be your greatest talent or skill: o Ex. Create understanding through dialogue. How would you use your talent or skills to service something you feel passionate about? Make sure your passions and interests are represented in your statement: o Ex. Create understanding through dialogue on issues of personal development. Describe how your values fit in: o Ex. Create understanding through dialogue on issues of personal development in an environment that fosters family relationships and personal development. This is your niche!!!! 7