Q: What is a strength?
A: Marcus Buckingham, author of Now Discover Your Strengths calls a strength “consistent near perfect performance in an activity.” Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness says “a strength is a trait, a psychological characteristic that can be seen across different situations and over time. A strength is valued in its own right…we value a strength for its own sake, even in the absence of obvious beneficial outcomes.” And, more succinctly, Seligman says, “it’s what parents wish for their newborn.”
A simple definition that may help you locate your strengths is this: A strength is something you do that strengthens you. A weakness is something that weakens you. Here’s the acid test for a strength: Can you fathom doing it repeatedly, happily and successfully? If one of those three is missing it’s not a strength. There are things you are very good at doing but that you despise. Those things aren’t strengths, those are talents. On the other hand, you may love painting or drawing in your spare time. You can do it repeatedly and happily but you know you’ll never be another Picasso. That’s a hobby, not a strength. And in case you were wondering, watching Will Farrell movies, while potentially enjoyable, doesn’t count as a strength, just a pleasure. There must be some effort involved, a choice to challenge yourself in some way.
Q: What are my strengths?
A: Here are some suggestions to find out what your strengths are:
- Track your own. See the end of this article for a Quix Tip on tracking your strengths.
- Take Gallup’s StrengthsFinder profile.
- Take Dr. Martin Seligman’s VIA Strengths Survey at www.authentichappiness.com (a free online assessment)
Other assessments you may be familiar with also offer clues to your strengths. For example, your preferences on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) may point you in the direction of some of your innate, enduring strengths. I often combine the concept of strengths with the MBTI when working with teams.
Q: What about weaknesses?
If you think a weakness can be turned into a strength, I hate to tell you this, but that's another weakness” Jack Handy (former Saturday Night Live cast member)
A: It’s my belief that weaknesses, what people do wrong, are over-analyzed. Far too much attention is placed on “areas of improvement” or “growth areas.” If you’re not good at something, you’re probably not going to be able to turn that weakness into world class importance. Only honing and using your innate strengths will give you the possibility of world-class performance. Work on your weaknesses, yes, especially if they involve a gap in learnable technical knowledge. But spend more time on your strengths. Here are some things to keep in mind as you explore what your signature strengths are.
- You do not have to have strength in every aspect of your role in order to excel. Forget “well-rounded.”
- You will excel only by maximizing your strengths, not by fixing your weaknesses.
- Capitalize on your strengths and manage around your weaknesses.
 How to Find One of Your Strengths
1 – Track It – Track and record your strengths for a week. When did you “love the game”? When were you happily lost in the flow of a project; whether work-related or not? Get specific. What exactly was going on? Who were you interacting with? |