Why Challenging Your Strengths Can Lead to True Growth

A decade ago, I used to define my strengths as the things I was good at doing, such as multitasking, analytical thinking, and being detail-oriented. However, my perspective changed when I discovered Marcus Buckingham's research on strength in leadership. According to him, a real strength is not just something you're good at; it's an activity that energizes you and leaves you feeling fulfilled.

Focusing on strengths can lead to a significant increase in performance and lower attrition rates. When we concentrate on our strengths rather than weaknesses, we become happier, more confident, self-aware, and productive.

List your strengths and assess how energized you feel about each one and how proficient you are. Plot your strengths on a matrix and ask yourself relevant questions based on their positions.

By understanding your strengths, you can avoid tasks that deplete you, do less of things that drain you, pursue your passions outside of work, and do more of the activities that energize you. Encouraging others to contribute their strengths to the team is equally important. The best teams understand each other's strengths, bring out the best in each other, and create a harmonious and energized team culture.

Important points:

• Strengths are activities that energize and fulfill us internally.
• Focusing on strengths can increase performance and reduce attrition.
• Identifying and leveraging strengths leads to happiness, confidence, self-awareness, and productivity.
• Plot your strengths and ask relevant questions based on their positions.
• Avoid tasks that deplete you, do less of draining activities, pursue passions outside of work, and do more of energizing activities.
• Encourage others to contribute their strengths to the team.
• Understanding strengths creates a harmonious and energized team culture.

Discovering and focusing on our strengths, energizing activities that fulfill us, can significantly improve performance, happiness, and productivity while reducing attrition. Use a Strenergy Matrix to assess strengths and make strategic choices to avoid depletion, pursue passions, and encourage others to contribute their strengths, leading to a harmonious team culture.