As a highly sensitive person, you may not be fully aware of the unique strengths that your sensitivity brings. While many view sensitivity as a negative quality or sign of weakness, the truth is that it can be a powerful asset when harnessed effectively. By taking a comprehensive strengths assessment like HIGH5, you can gain clarity on your innate talents and learn how to leverage them for greater productivity and success. The first step is recognizing that your sensitivity is not a weakness but a strength waiting to be unleashed.
If you know how to use your strengths, you can easily turn your sensitivity into a desirable quality. It can improve your quality of life, improve your efficiency, and help you in the workplace. If you want to know how to make this positive transition, read on. In this article, we will outline why sensitivity can be a strength and how you can build your sensitivity into a strength.
Why is it important to recognize the strengths of a highly sensitive person?
If you or someone you know is a highly sensitive person, it is extremely important to recognize their (or your) strengths. Many individuals begin to view their sensitivity as a weakness as they grow up. This leads to feelings of despair, decreases in passion, less productivity, and many more negative consequences. Recognizing your strengths can help you avoid these negative outcomes.
Some of the many benefits that you gain from exploring your sensitivity strengths include:
- Becoming more confident in your abilities while also being self-aware
- A boost in happiness and adoption of a positive mindset (glass half full rather than empty)
- Being able to build better bonds with those you care about, both in your personal and work life
- Increasing your productivity and focus
- Making more intelligent decisions about your career
- Knowing which risks are worth taking for you and which you should avoid
- Creating goals that are more personalized to your strengths
- Helping you effectively deal with criticism and feedback without taking it personally
- Helps you stay motivated and passionate about your job
- Increases your ability to acquire your dream job and succeed at meeting your goals there
19 strengths of a highly sensitive person
Now that you know some of the many benefits of knowing your strengths, you may have some additional queries. For example, what specific strengths do highly sensitive people have? To answer this question simply, there are a plethora of unique strengths highly sensitive people possess. Every sensitive person is different, though.
Still, some of the most common strengths highly sensitive people have include:
Self-awareness
Highly sensitive people have a deep understanding of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, allowing for greater self-regulation and personal growth.
Creativity
Their heightened sensitivity often translates into strong creative abilities, allowing them to think outside the box and approach problems with innovative solutions.
Conscientious
They are diligent and have a strong sense of duty, ensuring that tasks are completed with great care and precision.
Emotional sensitivity
Highly sensitive individuals are finely attuned to their own emotions and those of others, making them compassionate and empathetic.
Open to experiences
They have an intrinsic motivation to seek out new knowledge and experiences, leading to continuous personal and professional development.
Deep processing
Highly sensitive people process information on a deeper level, which helps them understand complex issues and come up with thorough solutions.
Depth of emotion
They experience emotions deeply, which enriches their relationships and personal experiences.
Empathy
Their empathy and sensitivity to others’ feelings and needs help them create and maintain peaceful and positive environments.
Big picture thinker
Highly sensitive individuals often see the broader implications of situations, enabling strategic thinking and long-term planning.
Thoroughness
Their attention to detail ensures that they approach tasks methodically and meticulously, often catching things others might miss.
Critical thinking
They have strong analytical skills, allowing them to critically evaluate situations and make well-informed decisions.
Integrity
Highly sensitive people often have a strong moral compass, guiding them to act ethically and with honesty in all situations.
Observation skills
As a highly sensitive person, you will notice even slight changes in your environment. For example, if their friend seems a bit more sad than typical, the highly sensitive person will pick up on these cues. They will do everything they can to help the individual. Great observation skills also help highly sensitive people in the workplace. They can notice small changes in coworker tension, and report these changes to a manager so conflict is avoided.
Careful
Some say that highly sensitive people may have a fifth sense. This is so because they can very effectively predict, and thus avoid danger. The ability to detect danger stems from their heightened connection to their senses. As previously noted, even small changes in the environment are picked up by highly sensitive people. Danger does not have to mean “life-threatening” either. This ‘fifth sense’ helps them avoid unnecessary conflict and competition.
Social skills
Highly sensitive people have great people skills. They can easily make friends and form long-lasting bonds with people. One reason why this happens is because of their ability to ‘read people.’ Sensitive people can pick up on body language cues. They can spot changes in a wide range of qualities, ranging from less eye contact to increased sadness in one’s tone. These social skills help them work well in teams, and it allows them to boost positivity in the workplace.
Kind
Picking up on these changes is one thing, but responding to them is an entirely different strength. Not only do highly sensitive people recognize these abilities, but they do everything they can to help those in need. Highly sensitive people are naturally empathetic and kind. They are willing to give up their time to ensure those they care about are happy, or at least happier.
Intuition
Individuals who are highly sensitive tend to also have a strong sense of intuition. People describe the power of a highly sensitive person as “psychic-like.” When asked how they know so many hidden facts about their environment and those around them, many HSPs do not have a clear, rational answer. They simply “just know.” It is their intuition that guides them when making decisions. It allows them to simplify the decision-making process and fully trust themselves.
Positive
Highly sensitive people are very appreciative and humble. They ensure that they thank those they care about for being in their lives. While this may not seem like a standard strength, it does offer many benefits. For example, finding the good in everything allows HSP to stay positive and motivated. They become far less likely to leave their jobs or their partners. Plus, the humbleness generally makes HSP well-liked by their team members and bosses.
Self-care skills
Taking care of yourself well is one of the many benefits of being an HSP. Some people neglect their self-care, which leads to a plethora of negative consequences. Such individuals are less satisfied with their lives, less productive, more negative, and much more. Highly sensitive people learn (through trial and error often) what brings them joy and what makes them feel down. They are very in touch with their feelings. So, they can effectively avoid their triggers and lead a fulfilling life.
How to identify the strengths of a highly sensitive person?
The previously described strengths undoubtedly help many highly sensitive people. However, every highly sensitive person is different. So, how can you find your strengths and grow them? Many people avoid investing in their strengths because they believe it must be expensive and timely.
While there are many options for identifying your strengths, some of the best options are also free and efficient. For instance, there are numerous online tools you can use to find your strengths as an HSP. One of the most accessible and simplistic ways to find your strengths is through an online strengths assessment. HIGH5 is a strengths test that will give you your unique list of strengths. The test takes only around 20 minutes and you will be given specific but easy-to-understand results.
Best of all, HIGH5 is completely free to take. There are a few other strategies you could use for pinpointing your strengths. Think back to the times when you formed the strongest bonds you have, whether it be friends, coworkers, partner, or someone else. Ask yourself: what made that person interested in you? How are you able to maintain your relationship in the long-term? These questions will help you uncover some of your basic qualities as a highly sensitive person. If you ever need additional input, don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust for help. Those around you can help you master your strengths and further develop your top abilities. They can also help you learn from their mistakes so you don’t repeat them.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
While there are many options for identifying your strengths, one of the most comprehensive and efficient is the HIGH5 strengths assessment. This free online tool is specifically designed to help highly sensitive individuals like yourself uncover their unique strengths profile. By taking the assessment, you’ll gain valuable insights into your top talents and how to leverage them effectively in both your personal and professional life.
How to develop further the strengths of highly sensitive person in the workplace?
Once you’ve identified your strengths as a highly sensitive person, the next step is to actively cultivate and apply them in the workplace. This can seem daunting without the right knowledge and support, but don’t worry – there are strategies to make the process seamless. One powerful approach is to leverage the insights and resources provided by the HIGH5 strengths assessment. By understanding your unique strengths profile, you can develop a targeted plan for leveraging your talents in a way that enhances your performance and well-being at work.
There are a few key strategies you should keep in mind to make the strength improvement process relatively seamless. Firstly, you need to become more in control of your emotions. Try to learn what triggers you most. Stay away from those triggers, or remove them from your workplace. If you know that a certain song reminds you of your best friend who recently left you, for example, find a quiet place to work or ask the person playing the song to respectfully avoid doing so. Or, if you know certain websites give you negative feelings, avoid using them during the workday (if possible).
Another way to further improve your strengths is by spending more time with your friends. Ask them to do more activities for them and be willing to help them whenever you can. This will give you more chances to work on your strengths. But, there is a fine line between working to improve your strengths and your friends starting to take advantage of you. Ensure you are still able to say “no” to doing something. Finally, you have to become brave and take some risks. You should already get a boost in confidence after acknowledging your strengths. Do not let your humbleness and care for others get in the way of you taking opportunities for yourself. You need to be willing to advocate for yourself. This will open many career opportunities for you.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
As a highly sensitive person working on improving your strengths in the workplace, consider seeking out a mentor or coach who understands and values the strengths-based approach. They can provide guidance on how to effectively communicate and apply your strengths, identified by HIGH5, in a professional setting, while also helping you navigate any challenges that may arise due to your heightened sensitivity.
How to highlight sensitive strengths in a resume and job interview?
When writing your resume and preparing for job interviews, it’s essential to effectively highlight your strengths as a highly sensitive person. One powerful way to do this is by taking the HIGH5 strengths assessment and using the insights it provides to craft a compelling narrative around your unique talents. Instead of simply listing your strengths, you can weave them into your job descriptions and accomplishments, providing concrete examples of how you’ve leveraged them to drive success.
Nearly all HR directors and managers agree: simply listing your strengths is an unconvincing way of showing you have them won’t cut it. You have to bring examples and specific feedback from prior clients as well as bosses to truly convince an interviewer you have a strength. When it comes to sensitivity strengths, you could even bring up personal examples of how you used your strengths.
For instance, if your friend had immense hardship in their life, but you helped them, this is an appealing example of using your strengths. Interviewers know that their strengths can translate into the workplace. If you can bring work-related examples of you using your strengths, the examples would be more relevant, though. For instance, bring statistics that show your observation skills stopped waste in the workplace. Or, you could show how multiple employees quoted you as one of the most caring individuals in the organization.
You can include your strengths in various sections of your resume. Some decide to create a separate strengths list. Again, support these claims with some examples or be prepared to bring examples to the interview. You could also include some of the strengths you acquired through education in the ‘education’ section of your resume and work-related sensitive strengths where you describe your past work experiences.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
During job interviews, be prepared to discuss your strengths assessment results and how they relate to the role you’re interviewing for. Provide specific examples of how your heightened sensitivity has been an asset in previous roles, and how you plan to apply those strengths to thrive in the new position. This will demonstrate self-awareness and a commitment to continuous growth.
What to watch out for as an HSP?
As a highly sensitive person (HSP), it’s important to be mindful of potential pitfalls. Overstimulation can easily occur, leading to stress and burnout, so it’s crucial to manage your environment and take breaks when needed. Additionally, HSPs may struggle with setting boundaries, often taking on too much or getting overly attached to others’ problems. Being aware of these tendencies can help you develop strategies to protect your well-being while leveraging your strengths effectively.
Misconceptions and myths about HSP and sensitivity
There are several misconceptions about highly sensitive people and sensitivity in general.
- Sensitivity Equals Weakness: Many people believe that being sensitive means being weak. In reality, sensitivity can be a strength, offering deep emotional insights and strong interpersonal connections.
- HSPs Are Introverted: While many HSPs are introverted, sensitivity and introversion are not the same. There are extroverted HSPs who thrive on social interactions but still need to manage overstimulation.
- HSPs Are Overly Emotional: It’s a common misconception that HSPs are overly emotional or dramatic. In truth, HSPs simply process emotions more deeply, which can be a valuable trait for empathy and understanding.
- Sensitivity Is a Rare Trait: Some people think that being highly sensitive is uncommon. However, research suggests that about 15-20% of the population has high sensitivity, making it a relatively common trait.
- HSPs Can’t Handle Stress: People often assume that HSPs cannot handle stress or pressure. On the contrary, with proper strategies and self-awareness, HSPs can manage stress effectively and even excel in high-pressure situations.
5 weaknesses of a highly sensitive person
As you have seen, there are many benefits and strengths that come along with being a highly sensitive person. You are more empathetic, pay closer attention to your environment, and find the good in everything. However, nobody is perfect. As such, highly sensitive people also have their unique weaknesses. You should not obsess over your weaknesses, though. Instead, be aware of them, but focus on growing your strengths.
Some of the common weaknesses of highly sensitive people include:
- Being too attached to people
- Overstimulation
- Easily hurt
- Pain sensitivity
- Less likely to take risks
Strengths of a highly sensitive person FAQ
Why being highly sensitive is a strength?
Many people grow up being told that their sensitivity is a weakness. However, this does not have to be the case. Many people learn how to use their sensitivity as one of their core strengths. Being highly sensitive is a strength because with allows you to see the good in everything and everyone. It lets to truly feel connected to your coworkers and clients, thus making you more motivated and passionate. Sensitive people also form strong bonds with others and are extremely empathetic. They are well-liked in teams and receive attention for that. Also, many highly sensitive people have incredible intuition. They are naturally aware of their environment and can easily avoid dangerous and risky behaviors.
Can being sensitive be a strength?
Contrary to what you may have been told, sensitivity can absolutely be a strength. Many of the world’s successful artists, entrepreneurs, and everyday employees attribute their success in part to their sensitivity. Some of the best bonds and relationships form between highly sensitive people. They have incredible people skills, as they can easily sense changes in their environment. These people are also extremely caring. They work hard to please others but also get personal rewards for doing so. Such rewards include being more positive, passionate, motivated, and satisfied with their personal and work lives.
What are the secret superpowers of highly sensitive people?
Highly sensitive people have many secret superpowers that may not immediately be apparent. These individuals have an incredible sense of intuition. They can naturally sense when someone is having a bad day, to their amazing observation abilities. Because of their empathy and keen observation skills, highly sensitive people make friends with nearly everyone. They are able to form genuine bonds with people and have long-lasting relationships. In addition, highly sensitive people feel deeply. This allows them to feel emotionally connected to their work. As such, they can feel more satisfied, happy, and passionate about their work, which decreases anxiety and depression.
What are the positives of HSP?
Highly sensitive people possess unique strengths such as deep empathy, strong intuition, and excellent observational skills, which help in forming meaningful relationships and making insightful decisions.
Can a highly sensitive person be strong?
Yes, highly sensitive people can be strong; their deep emotional insights and resilience enable them to navigate challenges effectively and leverage their sensitivity as a powerful asset.
