One of the first steps to being a good leader whether you are leading a small team, your own business or a large company, is to know your strengths. Know which activities energize you. Know which activities naturally make you stand out and excel. Learn how to talk about your strengths and be able to define them precisely.
I recently was working with a leader of a large organization. We were having a conversation about his strengths and he mentioned that he was very good at defining a big picture vision for his team and using that to motivate them. However, when it came time to explain the details and implementation of that vision he noticed that one of the managers who worked with him excelled at communicating the details in a much clearer way then he could. From then on whenever possible he deferred the implementation communication to his coworker. This story illustrates a side-benefit to clarity when it comes to your strengths. When you know your strengths it is also easier to see other’s strengths and delegate to them. We have all known that boss who doesn’t think anything is done right unless he/she puts their stink on it. Not a fun boss to work with! Bottom line is, to be a great leader- discover your strength’s, spend time developing them and do your best to delegate the rest.
Steps to Strength Clarity
1. One of my favorite strength’s assessment is the Gallup’s Strength’sFinder. https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com
2. Once you take the assessment give yourself the gift of taking the time to really understand your top 5 strength’s and how you use them at work.
3. Pay attention to how much of your day is spent involved in activities you are strong in.
4. Find ways to increase the percentage of your day that you use your strengths.
5. If your current job does not allow you to use your strengths at a high level then it’s time to job-hunt!
Have an Amazing Monday (and everyday!)
Leanna Fredrich, Leadership, Career and Stress-Management Consultant
Leanna@amazingmondays.com