In 2007, Gallup asked thousands of US workers a provocative question: "At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?" Shockingly, only 32% of people said that they did. Other countries were even worse. This represents a remarkable misallocation of talent: imagine the huge overall gain to productivity that would come from reshuffling everyone into roles they are suited for!

    Alas, no one can pick people up and shuffle them around by force; not Gallup, not the government, not even the Jolly Green Giant. Only the people themselves can do this. This means you. So if, on reflection, you discover you're one of the 68% that doesn't get the chance to use their true talents at work, here are a few reasons you might want to consider a change of career:

    1. Strengths contain your greatest potential for growth

    It's so intuitive - "I'm worst at tasks involving my weaknesses, so my greatest potential for development is in these areas. If I work on those things, I'll become rounded!" Too bad it's incorrect. Your strengths represent your natural ways of responding to the world; by going 'with the grain', instead of against it, you'll find it easier to perform the amount of practice necessary to reach expertise in your chosen field.

    2. Strengths lead to flow

    'Flow' is that special state, also called 'the zone', where you lose track of time, you become one with what you're doing, and your sense of self comes out stronger at the end. Activities involving your strengths are more likely to lead to this state. You'll produce better work, you'll do it more quickly, and of course, flow is also an enjoyable experience in itself.

    3. People who use their strengths become happier

    As mentioned before on Dumb Little Man, strengths-use leads to happiness. Achieving this happiness means both finding tasks that are suited to your strengths, and finding ways to involve your strengths into the tasks that you do.

    4. You'll make a better leader

    The idea that there's a specific mold people must fit to be a great leader is old-fashioned, and unsupported by recent research. Effective leaders are conscious of their own strengths, and build their teams around them. This creates a working environment that's more productive, and that's more conducive to collaboration.

    Do you believe the idea that you can do whatever you set your mind to? Well, maybe you can. But this perspective only refers to results of your labor and says nothing about the quality of it. If you're not using your strengths, you're in for a long and hard journey. On the other hand, strengths-use is inherently fulfilling - it feels natural, and right. And on top of that, you've got the potential to go further with your natural strengths than you do with your weaknesses.

    2007年，盖洛普民意调查向几千位美国的工作者提出了一个发人深思的问题："在每天的工作中，你有机会能做自己最擅长的事吗？"令人惊讶的是，只有32%的人回答是肯定的。这一比例在其他国家甚至更低。这说明了在人力资源的分配上出现了严重的错位：设想一下，如果重新分配，让每个人各司所长，这将会产生多么巨大的生产力啊！

    咳，但没人能把大家像扑克一样重新洗牌，盖洛普做不到，政府也做不到，就算是乔力绿色巨人也无能为力。只有人们自己能拯救自己。这就是说，你得自救。所以，如果回头想想，如果你是在工作中无法施展才华的那68%中的一员，以下有一些能让你鼓起信心换份工作的原因：

    1. 你的能力中有发展的巨大潜力

    这确实很有启发性 - "如果工作涉及到我的弱点，因此我发展的潜力就是在这些领域里。如果换成别的工作，那么我将毫无出彩之处。" 这样的想法简直大错特错。 你的能力是你对外界反应所做出的最自然的方式；只有"顺应"它，而不是与它背道而驰，你会发现达到职业的顶点更加容易。

    2. 长处使你的工作如行云流水般顺畅

    '行云流水'是一种特别的状态，也叫做'你的地盘',达到这种状态你不会觉得度秒如年，你会觉得干什么都特带劲儿，成就感超强。能让你发挥长处的活动会引领你进入这种状态。你发现工作更顺手了，反应也飞快了，当然，这种行云流水般的工作状态也会让你乐在其中滴。

    3. 能发挥所长的人会更快乐

    正如之前《默默无闻的小任务》一书中提到的，发挥长处能让人更幸福快乐。达到这种快乐需要你既要找到施展之地，也要找寻方法让你的长处得到最大程度的发挥。

    4. 你会成为一个更出色的领导者

    认为好领导都是天生的想法已经老掉牙了，并且也不被最新的研究所看好。效率高的领导者了解自己的能力，并且让团队紧密相连。这就创造了一个高产且对团队合作有益的工作环境。

    你相信只要你用心去做没有做不到的事么？嗯，或许你能。但这是建立在你的劳动和不涉及工作的质量的前提上的。如果你未能充分运用你的长项，你的工作将是漫长难熬的。另外，能力的运用是内在的 - 即你会感觉到那是自然的，正确的。最重要的是，你的长处给你的发展的潜力，而你不用在不擅长的领域里苦苦挣扎寻求发展。