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. 7th Street, Poplars 106
Bloomington, IN 47405
[email protected]
812.855.4104
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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?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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A Journey of Self Discovery
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
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A Journey of Self Discovery
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
Do you view most work days with a sense of enthusiasm?
Yes
Don’t know
No
Comments:
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
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A Journey of Self Discovery
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.






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A Journey of Self Discovery
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?
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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!!!!
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