Build Your Strengths Rather Than Patch Your Weaknesses

Being really good at something can be a blessing and a curse.  A blessing when whatever you're good at is truly valuable to your business, but a curse if you rely too heavily on that talent.

Many entrepreneurs fall into the frustrated founder role because; (a) they don't identify what they are naturally good at and, (b) they don't build a team that can take them further than their own limited strengths.  No matter how talented we are in one area, God doesn't give us all the gifts.  If we want to grow past Mom & Pop Inc. we will be forced to work with others to develop a well-rounded team.

In my businesses, we choose to support individual growth by trying to create space for people to excel without artificial barriers. Hopefully, and I believe increasingly, also by helping people understand and capitalize on their individual strengths.

For over a year, my leadership team has been using Standout as a tool for discovering and playing to our individual leadership strengths.  My Standout revealed that I am strongest as a Connector and Creator.  That explains why, by nature, I am energized at trade events and tend to generate a lot of ideas to kick around rather than spend time perfecting current operations. As a leader, I use Standout to remind me of the leadership strengths and biases of the leaders on my team.  I can tailor initiatives to their area of giftedness, make sure to avoid areas they struggle, and remind myself of how to work best with them.

My partners at www.sterling.net, one of ‘Oregon’s Best Companies’ to work for, use the CVI Index exclusively in their recruiting and team management.

There are many other tools that can help us discover our strengths and our gaps.  The key is being curious and willing to do the exploring.

Here are three things to consider when discovering your strengths;

1.  Don't fret about using a profile tool and being put in a box.  If someone actually tries to label you or use your personality profile to manipulate you, they've done you a favor by revealing they can't be trusted.

2.  Don't agonize over your weaknesses. You're better off finding ways to grow your strengths than you are patching up your weaknesses. Be real about your gaps, take corrective action if necessary, and partner with people who have the strengths you're in need of. My daughter and I enjoyed hearing a great speech from John Maxwell while attending the Hillsong Leadership Conference in Australia in 2011. He sought to liberate us from obsessing where we suck. He argues that on a scale of (1-10) there are areas where each of us falls below a (5).  He proposes that rather than try to improve in an area where we have no apparent talent or passion that we instead invest in areas where we have natural strength and passion to see if we can't move the needle up to an (8) or even an (9).  Summary paraphrase: "improving yourself to a (6) in an area may be admirable, but "people will stand in line for a (9)".

3. Find a role that fits your strengths. Regardless of the role, you'll be happier when you connect with your strengths and commit to grow them.  This is another area where our theology shows up in our business world.   If we can accept that we are loved by God, despite having shortcomings, it's a liberating belief that impacts all areas of our life.   Nobody thought we were perfect anyhow.

Things get really sweet when we're good at something and happen to really enjoy it.  A whole team of people living at the intersection of their competence and passion would be unstoppable.

Can you identify your top two leadership strengths as well as those of your key team members?

Join me on the journey via twitter: @sethbuechley