Finding Your Leadership Super Power

So, I'm a big fan of strength-based leadership.

For years, I struggled as a leader trying to fit into a mold I thought I had to.

Once I let go of that and began to embrace my true nature and talents, leadership became a lot easier, and definitely more effective.

So if you want to become more effective, confident, inspirational, and just make leading a whole lot more fun, then it's time to start leveraging more of your strengths.

One way to get started on your strength journey is with a Strengths-based assessments. These have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many organizations and individuals using them to identify and leverage their unique talents and skills.

These assessments can be particularly valuable for leaders, as understanding one's strengths can lead to better decision-making, improved team dynamics, and increased motivation. So I thought it would be a good idea to review three of the most popular strengths-based assessments for leadership, explaining how they work, their pros and cons, and when to use each one.

1. StrengthsFinder (Now Called CliftonStrengths)

How it works:

Developed by Gallup, CliftonStrengths is based on the concept of 34 distinct strengths, or "talent themes," that can be grouped into four domains: executing, influencing, relationship-building, and strategic thinking. The assessment consists of 177 questions that measure an individual's natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and ultimately ranks their top strengths.

Pros:

• Backed by extensive research and a strong scientific foundation
• Provides in-depth, personalized feedback
• Focuses on the development of individual strengths

Cons:

• Requires a paid subscription to access the full report
• May not provide a comprehensive view of an individual's weaknesses

Best for:

Leaders who want a research-backed assessment that provides detailed insights into their strengths, with resources for further development.

*This is the assessment I use in my Natural Born Leaders program for CEO's and Biz Owners. We use it as a starting point for our work with them over a 16-week period.

2. VIA Character Strengths

How it works:

Developed by positive psychology experts, the VIA Character Strengths assessment is based on 24 universally valued character strengths that fall under six virtues: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. The assessment consists of 120 questions and ranks the individual's character strengths in order.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Grounded in positive psychology principles
• Can be applied to various aspects of life, not just professional settings

Cons:

• Less emphasis on specific skills relevant to leadership
• Results may be less actionable compared to other assessments

Best for:

Leaders interested in a holistic understanding of their character strengths and how they can be applied in both personal and professional contexts.

3. 360-Degree Feedback

How it works:

360-degree feedback is a multi-source feedback process in which individuals receive feedback on their performance from multiple sources, including peers, subordinates, and supervisors. This process typically involves completing questionnaires that assess an individual's strengths and weaknesses in various leadership competencies.

Pros:

• Provides a well-rounded view of an individual's performance
• Encourages open communication and feedback within the organization
• Allows for targeted development of specific leadership skills

Cons:

• Can be time-consuming to implement and analyze
• The quality of feedback may vary depending on the raters
• May be perceived as threatening or create tension among team members

Best for:

Leaders who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of their performance from multiple perspectives and are willing to invest the time and effort required for successful implementation.

Choosing the right strengths-based assessment for leadership depends on your specific goals and needs. CliftonStrengths offers research-backed, detailed insights into one's strengths, while VIA Character Strengths provides a broader view of character traits. Meanwhile, 360-degree feedback offers a comprehensive understanding of one's performance from multiple perspectives.

So there you have it. If you don't want to spend any money start with the VI Character Strengths, and go from there.

But the most important thing, is to start leading more from your strengths. Because the best version of you, is absolutely enough!