Ben-Shahar and Ridgway’s SHARP model of leadership looks at
Performance Multiplier 1: STRENGTHS
“Stoke the fires that are already within you. Don’t spend time on remediation.” To truly flourish as leaders it is wise to “make the most of your gifts”.
You could be called upon to lead a group in any setting of any size: your local temple or church, HOA, PTA, Scouts, Sports League, social or professional organization. If you work in a corporation, you know that in today’s work world, leadership does not stop at mid-management. You could be charged to lead a team of 3 or 10 for the next project. Learning to be a flourishing leader applies to you, even if you do not think so at first glance.
MYTH 1: “Good leaders focus on overcoming or eliminating their weaknesses.”
The first impulse is to look at your own performance and zoom in on what went wrong or what you could have done differently to improve the outcome. As a leader, did you underestimate the time needed to complete a project that led to a disgruntled team? You will take on the onus of learning how to undo the damage done. That is your natural instinct. Our primitive brain pulls us towards self-preservation to alleviate anxiety. You also want to right the wrong. That is honorable. How much energy to spend on this is critical.
If feedback on performance reviews is heavy on highlighting the leader’s weaknesses and areas of improvement, an inordinate amount of emphasis is put on ‘damage control’. Sliding from ‘incompetence’ to ‘mediocrity’ is limiting your potential. You simply cannot be great at everything.
This takes away from time and energy you could spend on sharpening your strengths. If unused, your strengths may atrophy or become dormant. It robs you of being your authentic self and feeling fulfilled. It takes away from the task at hand. It deprives others of benefiting from your talents. It serves no one any good. Wouldn’t you rather go from ‘competence’ to ‘excellence’ to explore your full potential?
10X leaders draw upon personal character strengths primarily. They grow, gain confidence, are more engaged, efficient, satisfied and purpose filled. This radiates outwards. They highlight their team members’ strengths and encourage them to build on theirs. It creates a happier organization with greater outcomes.
10x leaders spend less time and energy working on their weaknesses. Yes, your softer areas of performance cannot be ignored. They have to be addressed or else they could hold you back. Let us say one of your strengths is organization and you have the drive to collate information and unify concepts (you both love it and are good at it); but your weakness is time management. The latter will stop you just short of success. Your VP may never get to see what a brilliant plan you came up with because you could not deliver in a timely fashion.
Your weakness holds you back from highlighting your strengths. So practice time management just enough for you to be able to showcase your organizational skills where you truly shine. Don’t dwell on your weakness hoping to turn it into a strength. Spend more of your energy polishing up your strengths.
The areas that you are naturally good at are your Performance Strengths. The areas that you are motivated and inspired to act on are your Passion Strengths. When the two overlap you are in your Peak Performance Zone. Work on widening and strengthening this sacred ground.
Reports say too much potential remains untapped. That needs to be turned around. Identify your strengths, reach for them and engage them heartily. You will flourish!