Why It’s More Important to Strengthen Your Key Talents Than Fix Your Weaknesses  

Imagine the world’s most successful people, like Oprah Winfrey, LeBron James, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett. What do you think of when you picture each of them? You see them as extraordinarily successful people.  Each of these individuals is incredibly talented in their chosen field, and celebrated for their contributions. These people have spent years developing their skills, and on many levels, their accomplishments are unmatched.

Now, imagine Oprah trying to do your taxes, or Bill Gates singing the Star-Spangled Banner. Not so inspiring, right? Perhaps Warren Buffett would not be the best skateboarder in the world, or LeBron James, championship athletic skills aside, would not be the best male ballet dancer. The point is, even these superstars don’t excel at everything, and no one is perfect. The most successful people in their world have things that they just aren’t good at.

Reversing the Negative Self-Scrutiny & Focusing on Key Strengths

Most of us forget this. The truth is that as a woman, you are instead likely aware of all of your own weaknesses. For instance, you know that you struggle with attention to detail, or you lack focus. Maybe your written communication isn’t great, or you have a hard time adapting to change. Or, for a superficial example, you know exactly where your cellulite is, locating it with your eyes closed! If you’re like many women, you spend a lot more time thinking about the things you don’t like about your self than the things at which you excel.

However, is that where you should put your focus?  What if you devoted your time and energy to developing your strengths, and working on the things you do really well?  How might that change your outlook, and even your future?  This is the focal point of Tom Rath’s book, StrengthsFinder 2.0.  Rath hypothesizes that from the “cradle to the cubicle,” we spend more time fixating on —  and trying to fix — our shortcomings rather than developing our strengths. However, we may better serve ourselves, and others around us, by growing our talents instead.

For example, Oprah has always been a person of empathy, with a natural interest in other people.  When she applied those talents to her work in journalism, allowing her to later develop her television show and network, she became highly successful. Joe Montana was likely a gifted athlete from childhood, and when he spent time training for football, the results were remarkable. Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have a knack for business, and when applied in the right way, their core strengths made them two of the wealthiest men in the world. 

Understanding Your Best Attributes

So, how do you know what your natural strengths are?  Rath’s book outlines 34 unique strengths, and includes a code for a quiz that you can take online to receive a personal profile.  Your quiz results will give you your top five strengths to focus on. Some of the strengths mentioned in the book include:

• Command – Individuals who score high on this strength have strong leadership abilities, and can take charge of a group of individuals. They are natural managers, and positions of power are comfortable for them. 
• Communication – People who have the Communication strength are gifted in expressing themselves verbally and in written form. They are great storytellers and natural conversationalists. 
• Futuristic – Those with the Futuristic trait are gifted in looking forward and planning for the future.  They are often natural visionaries, and they ask, “what if?” more than dwelling on current possibilities. 
• Relator – People who score high on the Relator strength are great at building deep relationships with others.  They look for common ground, and strive to form close bonds. 
• Learner – Individuals with the Learner strength are those who love to dig in and ask questions.  They are fascinated by how things work, and consistently look for ways to increase their knowledge in areas about which they are passionate.

Maybe some of these strengths sound familiar to you, or perhaps your talents exist in other areas.  A short summary of each of the strengths is also available here, and when you review the list, there will be strengths that you see in yourself, or in other people you know.

Using the Assessment in a Practical Way – at the Office and at Home

After taking the StrengthsFinder assessment and determining your top five strengths, it is also important to see how each of your strengths complements the other.  For example, if you have a natural gift for Command and Empathy, you could be a natural fit to lead a fundraiser to benefit your local food bank. Or, if you find Analytical and Communication strengths are both in your top five, a position that uses both of these skills (like technical writing) could be right up your alley.

It is also very helpful to take the StrengthsFinder assessment with those with whom you work, to determine where the team members complement each other, and where the opportunities for conflict exist.  For instance, a team full of individuals high in Harmony and Empathy might find it difficult to collaborate with a team member high in the attributes of Command and Self-Assurance.  Further, knowing where team members have strengths may make it easier for leaders to assign projects based on who is more likely to succeed by working in their “strengths” comfort zone.

Lastly, it can even be worth the time to do the assessment with your partner, and to evaluate your patterns to see if what you’re doing now is working well.  For example, if you hate paying the monthly bills, it may be worth asking your partner gifted in Discipline to take over.  If Relator is one of your top five strengths, perhaps you could take over managing social commitments and keeping up with loved ones.  Knowing your partner’s strengths is also a great way to be aware of the best things they bring to your relationship, and to be intentional about expressing your appreciation.

Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0 is an interesting take on self-development and growth.  He notes that people are seven times more likely to increase their potential when they focus on their strengths vs. their weaknesses. By shifting your focus to developing the things you do well, you will build confidence and feel more at home in your own skin.

So consider: where are you putting your time and focus into improving yourself? When you zoom in on and identify your strengths, choosing to put your energy into developing them, you may be surprised at how successful you can be!