How to Manage Your Weaknesses

No matter how many workshops, coaching sessions and debriefs I conduct on strengths-based leadership, there is one question that everyone wants to know the answer to: “How do I manage my weaknesses?” The question usually stems from a genuine desire to improve, however, what people are really asking is “How do I gain what I don’t have?”. 

Herein lies the myth. Our greatest weaknesses rarely lie in behaviours or traits we are ‘missing’, they lie in our natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving when poorly applied. Let’s read that again, our greatest weaknesses most often lie where our natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are applied ineffectively. 

For example, the person with strong communication skills who finds it challenging to first listen. Or the big picture thinker who struggles with detail. A different way to think about this is that every weakness that you have has an accompanying strength you haven’t considered, such that the person who finds it hard to listen, has strong communication skills. Or the person who struggles with detail is great at seeing the big picture. 

In the context of CliftonStrengths, this means weaknesses are usually found at the top of your CliftonStrengths report rather than the bottom!

While strengths-based leadership emphasises understanding one's strengths is crucial, it is equally important to recognise and manage one's weaknesses. So how can we effectively manage our weaknesses?

First we need to define what a weakness is. Put simply, a weakness is anything that gets in the way of your success. This understanding allows individuals to address potential obstacles that may hinder their progress.

Identifying Weaknesses

While CliftonStrengths does not quantify weaknesses, it does help individuals understand how certain strengths might prevent them from reaching their full potential. Here are some practical steps to identify potential weaknesses:

1. Evaluate Hindrances: Reflect on whether a particular theme has ever undermined your success.

2. Feedback: Consider if you have received negative feedback related to a specific theme.

3. Energy Drain: Assess if your role requires you to use a theme that leaves you feeling drained.

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, chances are you have identified an area of weakness.

Managing Weaknesses

Once you have identified your weaknesses, it's crucial not to ignore them. Here are four key strategies to manage them effectively:

1. Claim Them: Acknowledge your weaknesses and understand how they impact your success.

2. Collaborate: Seek support from partners who can help compensate for your weaknesses.

3. Apply a Strength: Use a different, stronger theme to achieve better outcomes.

4. Just Do It: Sometimes, you simply need to push through and do your best. Give yourself grace and appreciate it’s okay to feel more drained or need more time than others for these tasks.

Managing Weaknesses in Action - Activator Theme

Let's consider the Activator theme, which thrives on action and momentum, but might also lead to impatience or hasty decisions. (Activator is my second top strength, so this hits close to home!).

1. Claim Them: Recognise that your tendency to dive into action can sometimes result in overlooking important details. Acknowledging this can help you be more mindful.

2. Collaborate: Partner with someone strong in Analytical themes. They can provide the careful consideration and analysis that you might sometimes skip.

3. Apply a Strength: Use another theme such as Focus (my number 10 theme) to set clear priorities and create a structured plan. This helps channel your drive for action into more organised and deliberate steps.

4. Just Do It: While managing weaknesses, remember your natural inclination to act. Use this strength to break down tasks into smaller, actionable steps, ensuring you're moving forward while mitigating risks of oversight. (I love a good deadline, so I often set up milestone meetings with my colleagues and manager for long term projects to ensure I stay on track).  

Managing Themes Dynamics - Activator and Deliberative:

Our themes rarely operate in isolation of one another, rather they are continuously interacting with each other, creating complex and unique dynamics. Let’s consider how the Activator theme may interact with Deliberative (my number 9 theme) to create some particular challenges. 

1. Claim Them: Recognise that while your Activator strength drives you to take immediate action, your Deliberative nature might cause you to overthink and hesitate. Balancing these opposing tendencies can be challenging. (I can easily fall into the trap of analysis paralysis if I'm not careful, wanting things to be perfect and risk free before taking action)

2. Collaborate: Work with a team member who has a strong Analytical skills. They can provide the data and insights needed to make informed decisions, allowing both your Activator and Deliberative sides to act with confidence.

3. Apply a Strength: Use your Strategic theme (my number 1 theme) to create a clear plan that satisfies both your need for action (Activator) and caution (Deliberative). This can help you take calculated risks.

4. Just Do It: Acknowledge when it’s time to act. Sometimes, trusting your gut and taking the first step can help overcome analysis paralysis. (I tell myself I need to dial down Deliberative, and dial up Activator in these situations). 

Turning Weaknesses into Strengths

Focusing on your strongest themes and strengths offers the best opportunity for success. While your themes can sometimes hinder effectiveness and become blind spots, recognising and managing them allows you to apply your strengths effectively and turn potential weaknesses into areas of growth.

Remember, any strength you possess has a blind spot, but more importantly, any weakness you have, has a strength! How will you use these strategies to manage your weaknesses today?

And if you want to learn more about your strengths (and weaknesses!), let's connect and unlock your potential together.