#319: Don’t only build your strengths

Here’s another little trap to avoid if you are trying to land a job or a promotion.

Many populist life-skills coaches promote the idea that you should concentrate on building your strengths, while ignoring your weaknesses. They argue that you are employed and rewarded for your strengths, not to work on your weaknesses.

This is nonsense. And it is harmful.

If you build one or two strengths then you will be valued exactly for that and little else. Specialists are seldom credited as team players or leadership material, and they are often feared for the power their special strength gives them. And in a rapidly changing world, special strengths have a nasty tendency of becoming irrelevant.

Your strengths might make you a superstar for a while in one special area, but those same strengths might make you a dysfunctional manager, parent or spouse. Over time, you will be valued more for being balanced and well-rounded.



I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork.com

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