Focus on Your Strengths

Focus on your strengths

For years I struggled with my weakness of not paying attention to detail. I knew I had to overcome this in order to grow. I needed to pay attention to the details of my business and in my work with clients. I certainly could not allow any mistakes with clients, and those mistakes typically arose because “the devil is in the details.” I looked at many successful people and noted how meticulous they were. Of course I wanted to be successful, and so I felt I had to be like them.

But despite my intentions and trying all sorts of planning systems and behaviour change mechanisms, I just could not consistently pay attention and take care of details. Plus I hated it. It was boring, sapped my energy and frustrated me.

Then a few years ago, I happened upon this question: “What do you do better than anyone else in the world?” I immediately made a list, quite a long list to my surprise, which of course did NOT include “attention to detail.” I felt so excited, energized and inspired. Then, in that state of heightened emotion, I asked, “What do I need to release in order to do more of what I do well, and to get even better?” My answer? Attention to detail.

So I released attention to detail. And the light went on – attention to detail is important, but I don’t have to do it. I reviewed where attention to detail is important and where it really doesn’t matter. And now I contract people who are great at attending to the minutiae. This way, I have been able to release time and joy in building my skills in facilitation, coaching and writing.

However, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic presents some arguments against what could be called the “strengths-based movement” in this article (CLICK HERE) in which he notes that there is no scientific evidence for the efficacy of this approach and it can give people a false sense of competency.

I am in no way arguing for an approach that totally ignores weaknesses – that’s denial, which can be quite dangerous. Please note that in my personal example I did not ignore my weakness: I just did not focus on it to the extent that it overshadowed my strengths. Once I did that I opened my mind to other possibilities.

I have taken it further. I no longer do a “SWOT” in my Strategic Planning Workshops. I invite participants to identify what they most appreciate about their business – the strengths. And frankly, no one has noticed or been perturbed by us not identifying weaknesses. Because they know what they are and they know what to do – indeed, chances are they are long-standing weaknesses that have appeared year in and year out on the SWOT but that have not been addressed. Why? Because focusing on weaknesses sucks energy.

Yes, acknowledge what you need to improve (or not do or get someone else to do). But don’t get into sucked into the vortex of “what’s wrong with me/us and why can’t we fix it?”  When that happens you are unable to build on your strengths, the strengths of your team members and what your organization does that is valued by your clients. Energy goes where focus flows.

TAKE ONE ACTION

Take some quiet time to answer these 2 questions:

1. What do you do better than anyone else in the world?
2. What do I most need to release in order to do more of what I do well, and to get even better?

INTERESTING LINKS

Having problem with the behaviour and performance of some of your direct reports? You might want to check your own behaviour first because, as this article posits, your behaviour is like a virus – it spreads.
– click to view article

When hiring and in reviewing performance, how much do you focus on attitude? Whilst skills are important, it’s a positive “can-do” attitude that makes the difference. Think about how you can develop a more positive attitude and have this spread to your team.
– click to view article

As a strategy facilitator, I am a fan of collaborative decision-making. However, I do recognize that the buck stops with someone who MUST take responsibility for making the decision. So how to strike the right balance between getting consensus and being decisive? This article outlines one approach…
– click to view article