In my 1989 book, “The Way of the Tiger: Gentle Wisdom for Turbulent Times” (still going strong!) I introduced the concept of leading with strengths, since popularized by Gallup, among others, as “strengths-based leadership”. In the 25 years since I helped to found this movement, I have begun to rethink about the “strengths-emphasis” more.
Focusing only on our strengths and ignoring our weaknesses is like taking a Pollyanna approach to who we are, because, in truth, we are both our strengths and our weaknesses. The strengths-based movement also encourages stereotypical leadership: strong, powerful, charismatic and heroic. It would be nice if this was who we are all the time but, in reality, most of us aren’t.
If strengths, or being strong, is at one end of the continuum, then vulnerability (not weakness) is that the other. So this raises another opportunity: Could we be more effective as leaders if we became stronger with our strengths and more transparent with our vulnerabilities?
Leadership is a human activity, not just a business activity. It is about building effective and inspiring relationships. We can do this by playing our strongest cards – our strengths – AND we can also effectively use our vulnerabilities by, for example, asking for help, saying sorry or asking for forgiveness, telling someone we love them, or showing appreciation and gratitude. In other words, effective leaders use ALL their gifts. It is this self-awareness that leads to great leadership.
Saint Francis de Sales said “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength”, and Gandhi said, “In a gentle way you can shake the world.”
Could you be a stronger leader by being more gentle?
Thank you. God. And Lance. Faith and continued love…. with my unwaivering weakness of optimism and belief in others. Pollyanna
Lance –
A wonderful reminder to accept who/where we are in our whole ness.
An addition from my own space: in the small business in which I share leadership responsibilities, while the typical org chart titles are in place neither my associate or I bother much with them. We have recognized our ability to synergize from our differences – his detail focus, my broader vision; his daily operational actions, my longer term strategic positioning, and others.
It is, I feel, in the recognition by both of us of our individual strengths AND weaknesses that we find ways to compliment the other in serving our other team members and our clients.
There is great fulfillment in saying with a smile “no, you are better at that than I – how about you take this one?” and then watching as we both grow.
Keep inspiring!
Namaste – David
This is nice to hear!
Sounds like you are speaking about becoming like water or the wind.
paz
Maybe water AND the wind?
As always, your words help me to think. I’ve been such a fan of focusing on strengths…and now I’m just considering that acknowledging our vulnerabilities – as just that – not “weaknesses” – can be powerful in its own way. Thank you.
You are “spot on” with this thinking Lance (as usual)! Successful leaders are servants, and they seek the wisdom of those they serve. They also respect those they serve, and people are happier and more productive when they know their leader cares about them! A servant leader passes the credit to those who deserve it, and accepts the blame when something goes wrong.