From WeAreTheCity’s Future Leader’s Blog
Right? You have your own unique set of strengths and capabilities, wouldn’t you agree?
Yet most people don’t focus enough on them. They focus on what they are bad or not so good at and try to improve in those areas. And that may be important too – if they are limiting weaknesses they definitely need to be overcome.
But overall, strength focus is more important. It’s key for leaders – to focus on their own strengths AND to notice and bring out strengths in others.It’s easy to take strengths for granted, to not quite notice them as they are so natural.
It’s easy to think ‘well, that’s not so special – doesn’t everyone have/do that?’. And therefore not quite recognise, value or maximise them.
“No matter if you’re just starting out or if you are at the peak of your career, the more you work in your strength zone, the more successful you will be”
John C. Maxwell,
So do you know what your key strengths are? What makes you special? What has taken you to where you are today?
If you’re not sure, here are some ideas to help you get started in your strength spotting:
- Reflect on what you think your strengths are. The answer to the following questions can start to point you in the right direction:
- What do you enjoy most at work?
- When do you feel most energised at work?
- When do experience “flow” at work? (when things just seem to flow easily and effortlessly and time just flies by)
- When do you deliver best results?
- Ask others for feedback on what your strengths are (it’s usually pretty obvious to others)
- Do a strength inventory. There’s a number of them out there, like StrengthsFinder or StrengthScope
When you know what your strengths are, start exploring how you can make the most of them, how you can tap into them more.Put them into your current and future context and ask yourself “which of these strengths will best help me achieve my goals and ambitions?” And then start thinking about how you can develop them further by adding knowledge, developing skills and using them in new situations and contexts. Your strengths should most definitely be in your ongoing development plan.There’s not just one way of being a leader. Everyone is different, everyone has their own unique set of strengths, skills and experience, and the more you can become aware of and use your unique combination – the more authentic and effective your leadership can become.
Have fun with your strengths – there’s no one like you!
About the authors
Mandy Flint & Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, award-winning authors of ”The Team Formula”.
Their latest book ”Leading Teams – 10 Challenges: 10 Solutions” is out now, published by Financial Times International. You can download a free chapter of the book at www.leadingteamsbook.com
Praise for ”Leading Teams: ”This book is a 21st-century guide on how to build a world-class team. I highly recommend it” Steve Siebold, Founder, Mental Toughness University, Florida USA.
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