kitten.jpgTurning Weaknesses into Strengths

This is a story (edited) from a small book (163 pages), written by a business “coach,” called “Small Decencies: Reflections and Meditations on Being Human at Work.”

“Max’s vice presidents were afraid of him and seldom challenged him in meetings. This [information] was usually passed on with a reproachful expression and the implication that my work with Max should have changed all that. Max had changed some but equally important his reports now understood that Max is a deep thinking introvert, not a fast thinking extrovert. Challenge him in a meeting and he can’t keep up; he turns mulish. They know it, Max knows it. When they see him locking in, they drop the topic and pick it up a day later in a one-on-one meeting where Max can focus. Their willingness to let the boss be himself keeps them out of unproductive jams and leads to well-thought-out solutions.”

The moral of the story is that we do not have to be perfect to be good or even to be excellent. Many “weaknesses” are not worth the time and energy it takes to “correct” them.

Usually it is more important that we learn how to work together effectively, to focus on our strengths, and deal with the Big Rocks and BHAGs that challenge us.

How can you make a weakness irrelevant? Or even turn a weakness into a strength? In your life? In the lives of those on your team? At home, at work, and in your community?