Work Smarter; Emphasize Strengths, Don’t Fix Weaknesses
Posted on February 4, 2008
Filed Under Cold hard career facts, Career Development, Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y
It’s been said that leopards don’t change their spots, no matter how old they get. I believe that. How often do you hear about a friend of family member that marries ‘the (insert derogatory term here)’ and some time later you hear of the impending divorce. What usually follows is, ‘I thought he/her would change after we got married’. That always makes me laugh.
We don’t change. Occasionally, you’ll hear about the random person that made some sort of life altering change, but let’s be honest, those are rare. I think you’d have better luck with the lottery than trying to change someone.
When it comes to career management, this still holds true. Most of us are good at a handful of things and largely miserable at the rest. I’m not the worlds best project manager, but yet it was my job for over five years. How? I emphasized my strengths and largely outsourced my weaknesses. I’m good with people. I’m a good listener. I’m good at diagnosing problems and recommending solutions. But I’m lousy with the details. So when it came to running projects, I would put a ton of work into listening, diagnosing, and recommending solutions. Then I’d outsource the legwork. When I did that effectively I was a huge success. When I didn’t, those projects went the way of the Titanic.
For a while I tried to change the way I managed projects and do the details better. I was mildly successful, but ultimately miserable. Fast forward to what I do now. I support sales. I say support, because I also know that one of the things I don’t do well is actually sell. Supporting sales leverages all the things I do well, listening, diagnosing and recommending solutions. I also then do live product demonstrations. Again, I’m good at the people stuff.
Yet, so many people think they can do or get better at their job by trying to fix weaknesses and this is where they usually end up failing. Mostly because they’re trying to get better at something they don’t have an aptitude for or really enjoy. What they should do is maximize their strengths to overcome their weaknesses. Besides it’s a lot more fun to leverage your strengths instead of focusing on the chinks in your armor. The choice comes down to either multiplication of results using strengths or small, slow growth in fixing weaknesses, that will at best someday grow to mediocre. Focus on better using your best weapons instead of constant fixes. A Ferrari will tow a boat, but not very well. A Ferrari needs to do what a Ferrari does best…go fast.
Until next time…
[tags] career development, work smart, emphasize strengths, skills development
Great post and totally agree. I discovered this approach from Marcus Buckingham a few years ago and it helped me tremendously.
I am the same - Project Management and all that detail - not for me thanks.
If you want to fast track your career, exploit your natural strengths. You have them - now make them even better by using them and stretching them even more.
Surround yourself with individuals who fill your weaknesses. I’m not good with detail so I make sure I have someone on my team who loves the detail and the data - that’s their strength and I exploit it for them!
Andrew
Great points Andrew. Thanks for your comments.
Unfortunately I usually haven’t been in the situation to outsource the stuff I can’t do! After some miserable time chasing the money I have just switched back to something I used to enjoy doing - waiting to see how that works out!
Best of luck Lissie! Chasing the money is exhausting and usually unfulfilling. I’ve been there and am much happier, now that my priorities are better.
Thanks for commenting.
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I have chosen this post for my weekly GreatManagement Inspirational Articles - The Best Advice From Around The Web. (www.greatmanagement.org). Andrew