The job of a leader is to turn a person’s talent into performance.

Which is more important: building on your strengths or fixing weaknesses? The U.S. is the most strength-oriented country in the world. And only 41% believed that building on their strengths was more important than working on weaknesses.

“Apologies to Madonna, the Material Girl, we live in a remedial world.”

“Most of us are better at fixing who we aren’t than being who we are.”

We study sickness to understand health. We study bad to understand good. The problem with that is this: if you study bad you get not bad which is not good.

A good leader has to genuinely want their people to succeed. That is at the heart of good leadership. Another less or anything else is manipulation. You’re using someone not leading them! Good leaders are energized by small increments of growth. They notice and celebrate the positive developments!

Only 14% of Americans say they spend most of the day playing to their strengths.

Find out what is unique about each person and capitalize on it.
Good leaders don’t generalize. Good leaders capitalize.

Three Myths:

Myth #1

As you grow your personality changes–66% believe that. Not true. As you grow you become more and more of who you really are!

“We’re all a wee bit insecure about some part of our personality.”

“Therapy is the price you pay for helping your kids know they are wrong.”

“You show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.”

Myth #2

You’ll grow the most by working on your weaknesses. We focus on our weak subjects in school. You can’t ignore the “D.” But that isn’t where you’ll grow. Weaknesses are areas of least opportunity.

Myth #3

What the team needs is for you chip in and do whatever is needed by the team.

What the team needs the most if for you to identify your strengths and volunteer to use them. What the team needs isn’t a vague willingness to do whatever it takes. Take a stand for your strengths!

Don’t be well-rounded.