Emphasizing your strengths is vital to your personal development or professional advancement. But you dare not forget it's only half of the equation .

Since the release of Marcus Buckingham’s book, Now, Discover Your Strengths!, there’s been a lot of buzz about strengths versus weaknesses in the field of personal and professional development.

I absolutely agree with the concept of the book, but I think it misses a key point.

It’s not smart to ignore your limitations (or weaknesses) if they are holding you back.

If you choose to focus on your strengths and ignore ALL of your limitations you could be putting yourself at a disadvantage. So it pays to know which (if any) of your limitations are holding you back, before you start focusing exclusively on your strengths.

Let me give you an example:

When Rhonda found Buckingham’s book she felt like she finally found the answer to accelerate in her career. She read everything she could get her hands on about “focusing on your strengths”. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was finally on the right path.

One of Rhonda’s greatest strengths is her productivity. She processes paperwork like a printing press spits out print jobs. And she takes great pride in her speed.

In fact, every year during her performance review she debates the issue with her boss. But she feels like her boss doesn’t recognize or reward her greatest strength.

Poor quality detracts from high productivity, and minimizes its value

Now here’s where it gets a little bit sticky. One of Rhonda’s limitations (or weaknesses) is “attention to detail”, and it definitely holds her back.

Have you heard the expression “the devil is in the details”? Well it’s true. Poor quality detracts from high productivity, so it minimizes the value of the productivity.

In essence, the “strength” that Rhonda is so proud of is actually detracting from her overall performance. If she slowed down a bit, and paid more attention to detail, her work would add more value to her company.

Until she gets this distinction and makes the necessary changes, she’s likely to be frustrated.

No matter how much you focus on your strengths, you must also overcome limitations that are holding you back.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

Take Action Challenge

My challenge to you over the next month:

1. Identify one limitation that’s holding you back
2. Validate your choice (ask your boss, a colleague or a client if it would be valuable for you to improve or eliminate this weakness)
3. Determine the steps you need to take to improve or eliminate the limitation
4. Put your plan into action
5. Ask for feedback on how you’re doing
6. Stay focused and keep going
7. Share your experience with me

© 2006 Lora J Adrianse

As the owner of Essential Connections, Lora Adrianse is a catalyst for clients who aspire to create dynamic business relationships with their colleagues and customers. She authors a free monthly newsletter, "Relating@Work". Go to her website at http://www.connectionscoach.com to subscribe now! Lora also writes two thought-provoking blogs: Essential Connections and Get Your Career in Gear.




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