Stop for a minute to name off some weaknesses that you think
you have. Now do the same for some of your strengths and skills that you
possess. It probably took you a lot longer to name your strengths and skills
than it did to name your weaknesses. We all have our weaknesses; we are only human, but we are
also capable of great strengths.
My business professor once gave me an assignment to list 100
skills and talents that I possess. The more I pursued this task, the more difficulty
I had convincing myself that I could actually complete it. I’ll admit I was
stuck after the 10th listed skill, a clear indicator that my focus
needed to shift dramatically. In
regards to my capabilities, my assessment was making me quite aware that I had
more of a negative perception of myself than a positive one.
We are of course meant to have weaknesses along with
strengths, though we are not meant to concern ourselves with the impossible task
of completely ridding ourselves of weaknesses, but rather to minimize
weaknesses and develop our strengths. In fact, focusing more of our attention on
our strengths just widens our window of opportunity.
Perhaps the most important secret to becoming a successful
leader starts with a clear understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses and
from there building and capitalizing on your strengths while not letting your
weaknesses hold you back. It’s
those who continue to focus and develop their strengths and move past their
weaknesses who become true leaders.
“You are what you allow yourself to become”- Robert Waggoner
Here’s to looking beyond our weaknesses,
Melanie
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