Strength Based Growth

"What are your greatest weaknesses?". This has to be the most daunting question of any interview process. It's probably the one we spend the most time preparing for, sugar coating our answer into something that can seem like an attribute. If I were to travel back into the interview world knowing what I know now, I'd most likely channel my inner Eminem from 8-Mile when re-approaching my relationship with my weaknesses.

• Interviewer: "What are your greatest weaknesses?"
• Me: "Well...sit back and take notes Jerry because there's a laundry list here:
  • "I'm not the most organized."
  • "I'm a slow reader"
  • "My public speaking isn't great."
  • "I tend to lean into the abstract thinking which can cause me to lose focus on details."
  • "I'm not the most analytical."
  • " My communication skills are sub-par"
  • "Math and hieroglyphics are one in the same for me."
  • "I have more self doubt than I'd like."
  • "I tend to procrastinate"
  • "Details and math I struggle with...did I mention that already?"

I may be getting a bit dramatic here, but I think I've made my point. While we must be aware of our less gifted areas, drilling down on those gaps isn't the only way to self improve. In fact, it may arguably be a less effective way to grow compared to it's counter part, strength-based development.

What is Strength-Based Growth?

A strength-based approach is one that identifies and acknowledges "how" our internal operating system organically works best rather than focusing on the deficits and gaps. We would then marshall our resources towards proliferating those strengths into meaningful work as opposed to only "fixing" the deficits. Let me say we all need a baseline of basic competencies to be set up for success. This approach more so utilizes a strategy that put's anabolic action behind your strengths rather than banking on them as a safety net, passively.

Here's an example. Envision your stereotypical computer software engineer, let's name them Hilda. Hilda is a person who needs to be highly analytical and linear thinking. She'll most likely be on the higher end of the IQ scale. Hilda is also most likely to lean on the side of introversion vs. extroversion given the lack of "people-ing" that exists in that profession relative to others. Now assume Hilda looks to launch her own computer software business. Entrepreneur's reading this know that to launch any service, you'll need be your largest brand ambassador, which requires you to connect with the consumer market....people skills.

Following the strength-based approach, Hilda may need to partner with someone who innately carries the necessary attributes (relationship building skills, extroversion, sales skills, higher EQ, etc) needed to be successful on the brand awareness side while she doubles-down on her abilities to ensure a high quality product/service.

What's The Impact?

In a few previous blogs, I've referenced this concept of working in your unique abilities or Working Genius in Pat Lencioni's language (a blog for another time). Imagine living the majority of your life, whether it's at work, school, family, etc. operating in your unique ability. Imagine the energy you'd experience, the fulfillment you'd have and the way you'd show up for your loved ones. Strength based growth is focused on aligning the work you do with the constituents that comprise your unique abilities.

According to a recent article from Gallup, teams and organizations benefit positively from this approach on multiple levels:

• A team’s awareness of its strengths is a better indicator of engagement and performance than the specific composition of the strengths. Teams where 90% or more knew their strengths had the best outcomes (Gallup, 2023).
• Groups receiving strengths interventions achieved substantially higher sales, profit, customer engagement and employee engagement and lower turnover (Gallup, 2023).

Why Isn't Everyone Doing This?

Simple answer, biology.

Okay I'll expand...

Humans are hardwired to be on the look out for threats. It's a basic survival adaptation that's kept us around for all these years. Unfortunately, this reality hasn't caught up with the fact that we're inherently more safe than we were many years ago. Humans today aren't necessarily walking out of their homes afraid of being eaten by a large animal, hunting for their food or other barbaric obstacles we once faced. However, we're still wired to prioritize alerts for "threats", even the one's that show up in our daily lives that aren't all that dangerous. Therefore, we hyper focus on the deficits without even realizing it. We notice mistakes far more than we notice accomplishment. We dwell on the losses far longer than we relish in the wins.

We then use this framework in our leadership of others/self to move towards the outcome we want in the "safest" possible way. If someone's "dropping the ball", we must fix the deficit the save the organization...I realize that's a bit hyperbolic but the thought process holds true. We see area's of weakness as threats to our very success. Therefore, to eliminate the threat, we must work on the weakness.

Again, I'm not suggesting we abandon responsibility from working on our gaps, in fact, deficit-centric growth can work tremendously well for achieving a specific outcome. I'm simply shining the flashlight in different corner of the developmental room. One that can have greater levels of energy and impact than we think.

Take Away's

A good exercise would be to list out your greatest attributes. From there, ask yourself these questions:

1. How do these show up in my life?
2. What do I feel/what am I doing when showcasing these attributes?
3. How much time do I spend activating these strengths each day/week?
4. How can I spend more time in this space? What would the outcome be?

If you're really looking further your understanding of YOU and your unique abilities, I'd recommend going through the CliftonStrengths assessment. This relatively longer based questionnaire will distill down the uniqueness of your specific operating system and shine light on your natural, energizing abilities.

Again, the more we can live in our highest frequencies, the greater impact we'll have on our success and relationships with others. Strength based development can be a great addition to the growth tool box.