You are bound to receive vast responses if you dare to ask people what their hidden talents are, a big number will tell you they aren’t aware, while others will say they don’t have them at all. This is obvious as for most people, it’s hard to realise their abilities unless they are mentored on how to. However, experts say this is not ideal as it might lead to some skills going unnoticed and untapped. Importance and ways of doing this Basically, hidden talents are skills you never knew you had. Finding your hidden talent can benefit your business and personal life. Jackeline Iribagiza, a matron, counsellor and mentor at St Martyrs School in Remera, says as a mentor, she helps young people discover their talents and has since discovered how it helps them feel more in tune with who they are. She says most of them end up using these talents to excel not only in academics but in other areas too. Iribagiza says the first step to discovering your hidden talents is to accept that you have talent, “It’s just that we are always too busy to identify what we are. If you can determine strengths that have been lying dormant, you can tap into what may be an amazing resource that helps you in different aspects of your life,” she says. As an expert, Iribagiza says it’s always good to ask people around you to help you identify what you can do with passion. For instance, she mentions that this could be from your family, friends, and mentors to co-workers. “This is important because sometimes we might not know exactly what we can do better. Those around can easily point out some of your strengths even when you can’t see them,” she says. Dr Andrew E Ivang, an educator believes that asking people you believe will provide you with honest feedback of what they think your hidden talents are, and that this is very crucial. This, he says, can apply to many people and that it gives you room to compare and contrast. Also, this can give one a room to find out what skills are easy for them. “You might find that there are things that you find extremely easy to do while others may struggle. It’s just ideal to reflect on what skills come easiest to you and you’ll be surprised to find how talented you really are,” he says. Another way of finding your hidden talents, Ivang says, is by striving to do things out of your comfort zone. Hidden talents can reside in the most unpredictable places. He also believes that when one puts themselves in an unfamiliar position, it’s easier to learn where your strengths and weaknesses are and build from there.
