What Makes You Really Good at What You Do?

In this WiBF article, Nyari Mushangwe explores how experiences outside the workplace can reveal our strengths, build confidence and help us make more intentional career choices.

Sitting down to prepare for an interview, I would inevitably reach the question, “What are your strengths?” My mind would comb through everything I had done at work for proof of what I was good at. Each time, the process felt incomplete, as though I were leaving out a part of myself that had shaped how I think and approach challenges.

My underlying belief was simple: if it had not happened at work, it did not belong in my answer. There is truth to this when it comes to the technical aspects of a role. But does the same logic apply to behavioural questions?
You may have only one or two examples of solving significant problems at work and, as a result, underestimate how naturally that capability comes to you. Now consider your life outside work. Perhaps you have been solving problems since you were ten years old, finding solutions within your family, community or other parts of your life. Suddenly, those workplace experiences become part of a much broader pattern.

I have built my life and career across multiple countries. Each move came with different motivations, from work opportunities and relationships to family and simply saying yes to a new adventure. Along the way came uncertainty, diverse cultures, unfamiliar ways of communicating and unwritten rules to navigate. Sometimes, I had no job lined up.

Some of my roles have been in large, listed organisations with well-established structures and processes. If I assessed my ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to change solely on my professional experience, I might conclude that I am average. But when I consider my personal and professional life together, I see a different picture. Adapting to unfamiliar environments, solving problems and dealing with complexity are strengths I have developed over time.
The same applies when considering a role that requires someone who can build relationships quickly. Looking only at your work history might lead you to count yourself out, even when years of experiences outside work show that this comes naturally to you.

This has taught me the value of looking at my whole life to better understand my capabilities. I started asking myself: What have I done that I am proud of but have never considered professionally relevant? What do I repeatedly find myself doing, regardless of the environment?

The value is not in any one answer, but in the patterns that emerge when you look at your experiences together.
I now have a much clearer understanding of my capabilities, without needing external validation. I back myself, put my hand up for challenging projects and build relationships beyond my immediate circles. I also make more intentional career choices, with a clearer understanding of where I thrive.

What we learn through life is not a substitute for professional experience, but it can offer valuable insight into the strengths and behaviours we bring to work. Recognising and articulating those strengths can build confidence in interviews, in our current roles and in deciding what comes next. Ultimately, that self-knowledge can help us build careers and lives that are more balanced and fulfilling.

About the Author
Nyari Mushangwe is a Chartered Accountant and senior finance leader whose career spans multiple markets, jurisdictions and organisations. She writes and speaks about global mobility, career development and adaptability, exploring how our experiences shape the capabilities we bring to our careers and how we navigate change, transition and opportunity.

At WiBF, we share the experiences and insights of professionals shaping banking and finance. Nyari’s story is a reminder that our strengths are shaped by more than our job titles and that recognising the value of our experiences can open up new possibilities.

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