Focus on Your Strengths
Research has shown that when we identify our strengths and make an investment in growing and using them, GREAT things happen. We are more engaged, more productive and we can see our impact. In short, we have greater joy & fulfillment in work and life.
Focusing on our strengths does not mean ignoring weaknesses or limitations. Weaknesses can bring balance to our strengths. They can offer windows into deeper self-awareness and identify areas for growth.
Both strengths and weaknesses can be improved.
The Question to Ask:
Where do you want to spend most of your time and energy?
It’s not about denial, it’s about the best use of your time and energy.
Acknowledging your weaknesses, minimizing them and not obsessing over them while growing your strengths seems to be a logical choice.
So, why don't we do that?
"If Only ..."
Most of us spend a lot of time and energy trying to fix what’s wrong with us. We're convinced that fixing ourselves is the key to achievement. We often blame our perceived lack of success on a flaw or weakness.
- If only I had more of ...
- If only I had less of ...
- If only I could be like ...
Our culture & economy thrive on this concept. We believe these thoughts because this is what we’ve been taught.
Let’s stop for a moment, and ask a simple question.
“Is it true?”
Do you know anyone who has achieved major success in any area of life by focusing on overcoming their weaknesses?
Do top athletes spend the majority of their time and effort working on their weak math skills? Of course not.
Read the life-stories of highly successful people. Listen to, watch, or read interviews with people at the top of their fields. Take note of what they say about their path to success. They may mention overcoming obstacles or needing to adapt. But, they don’t credit their success to focusing primarily on their weaknesses. What they talk about is how they became successful by focusing on what they were good at.
Various studies have shown that when we focus on developing our strengths, we grow faster than when we are trying to improve our weaknesses. Plus, people who use their strengths are happier, less stressed, have more energy, better health and are more confident. Who doesn't want more of that?!
Key Point
For most of us, we can only hope to go from poor to average with regard to developing our weaker skills. However, going from good to great is a much smoother and ultimately more satisfying experience.
And...
When we run into challenges in a strong aptitude area, we’re more likely to have the energy reserves to persevere.
Okay, so what do we do about those weaknesses?
Managing Weakness
Does your weakness prevent you from living a functional and happy life?
If the answer to this is yes, you probably need to take a close look at what’s going on and it may help to do so with a professional.
Can you outsource your weakness?
Is it possible to get somebody else to work on your weak point? Purchasing, hiring, delegating are often a better solutions than trying to fix weaknesses.
Wherever possible use existing resources to provide equity.
Can you ignore/downplay your weakness?
Stop defining a weakness as something that should be a strength.
If you’re a writer who isn’t very funny, you don’t need to be comedic in your prose.
Do you want to improve your weakness?
If you actually want to improve your weakness, that might be the best sign to work on it more than anything else.
Of course, the opposite is also true. If you hate working on your weakness, and you more motivated to tackle something you’re great at, that may be a better path to follow.
What is the investment vs the return?
Some weakness are only worth focusing on up until the “bare minimum” point. Reach the minimum level required in order to get to your goal and that’s it.
Our time, resources and willpower are limited.
There’s absolutely no point at burning yourself out in order to get a straight A in your most hated subject. Better to use that effort elsewhere.
Experiment
Identify a strength
Decide how you want to invest in it
- build knowledge
- practice skill
- develop competency
- use it more consistently
Identify a weakness
Use one of the strategies outlined above to manage it
Commit to a specified amount of time
Measure your progress
Assess your level of self-agency
- are you moving forward toward your goals?
- are you feeling more confident?
- are you happier?
Yes? Excellent!
Pause. Celebrate. Repeat
