A long time ago when I was much younger, I had the opportunity to visit with a very experienced and thoughtful consultant. He shared with me that after 40 years of consulting he had learned that successful leaders and organizations build on strengths. It was many years later that the Gallup Organization confirmed this through in-depth research.
Now, many decades later, the phrase “build on strengths” is routinely stated by leaders and managers at all levels of the organization. It makes sense to people and with the research to support it, people try to do this on a regular basis.
The one thing I have noticed is that many leaders and managers forget one simple but important fact about this concept. Building on strengths takes time, thoughtful attention and a series of short term wins. It is not a one and done sort of thing. The best leaders are continually taking the time on a regular basis to keep building on strengths.
Next, these same leaders are very thoughtful in the process. Once they think they have figured out the strength of an individual or team, they are constantly checking to make sure they are correct in their assessment and adjusting their building process to make sure they are being effective.
Finally, these same leaders embrace John Kotter’s idea of helping people achieve a series of planned short term wins, i.e. confidence building steps in order for people to learn how to build on their own strengths, not just to have a leader, manager or supervisor do it.
When we commit to building on strengths, we are committed to a long term and in-depth leading and coaching process. While it takes time, it is an investment that pays back over and over again. This week make sure you know your strengths and the strengths of the members of your team. Then set them up to routinely be successful. Then, you will have created a powerful flywheel for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
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