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comment by _refugee_
_refugee_  ·  3372 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What is your greatest weakness?

So I think that the answer to this question really depends on the context - I think that my answer to this question "in life" or "in relationships" would differ a lot from what I'd say for work. Since this is on the tng selling series and placed in the context of a job interview, I'll answer the way I would at work - as honestly as I can.

I have difficulty seeing the forest for the trees sometimes - if I get very involved or interested in something, I can hyper-focus on small elements such that I lose sight of the bigger picture. This can cause me to use my time ineffectively as I'm trying to research one small detail because I become attached to it, when instead the greater priority is finishing the whole piece. This also impacts my communication because sometimes, I communicate things on too micro a level. It's been useful to me at work to learn to take a step or two back from "where I am" in a project, and try to present information on a larger level to business partners and coworkers, etc.

I'm really, really good at research and analysis but sometimes that means I get way too into nailing down the details behind the smallest details. This is one of the most frustrating ways that I lose time at work, because I become attached to identifying the right answer when really I need to let go and move on.

But learning this about myself has been helpful in fighting against it. I also think it's a valuable thing for me to know about myself. It helps me to say "Stop it, get out of your head" when I can feel myself getting drawn down a research hole.