As mentioned earlier, this March, we’re exploring themes of self-awareness and growth through the lens of learning to understand ourselves in pursuit of leading others. We’ve examined how we ask for actionable advice and how we notice our thoughts before they spiral away from us.
Our next two Thought Partners will continue to focus on self-awareness; however, through the use of one of my favorite tools, the CliftonStrengths Assessment. If these two posts don’t have you clambering to learn more, take the assessment yourself (if you haven’t already), or contact me to deliver training for your organization, I’ll have to eat my keyboard. (If this sounds slightly familiar, I did tee this up in Stop Fixing Yourself. Start Leveraging Yourself. in January.) Let’s get started.
And let’s start with:
HOW YOUR GREATEST STRENGTHS CAN BE YOUR BIGGEST LIABILITIES
(Not because your Strengths are flawed, but because what makes you brilliant can also make you blind.)
Blind spots occur when our strongest CliftonStrengths cause unintended negative consequences, leaving a critical opportunity for us to create awareness around how the overuse of these talents influences our thoughts, actions, and how others perceive us.
Allow me to share how a few of my Top 10 Strengths can at times go rogue on me if I’m not watchful…
- Individualization sees everyone as unique until I become so focused on customizing everything that simple decisions take forever. I’ve spent 20 minutes crafting the perfect personalized message when a quick “Great job!” would’ve done the trick.
- Harmony keeps a peaceful environment until I’ve avoided necessary conflict for too long, and resentment is brewing, and problems are festering. That “difficult conversation” I’ve been postponing? It now has enough content for three difficult conversations. (Yes, even for a coach who knows better.)
- Discipline creates order and structure until my rigid systems frustrate people who need more flexibility. My color-coded filing system with P-touch labels and stickers is a masterpiece to me, but could be a nightmare for others.
- Achiever drives relentless productivity until I’ve burned out my team (and myself) chasing one more goal or doing one more task before shutting down for the night. My pre-teen told me yesterday, “Just one more thing before I wrap up,” has become my catchphrase, and now he’s taken to ominously looming over my desk until I shut down. (And let me say, depending on the time of day, he doesn’t give off the most fragrant of wafts!)
WHY AM I SHARING THIS, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Understanding our potential blind spots and anticipating others’ perceptions helps us refine our talents and enhance the effectiveness of our relationships. This isn’t about fixing ourselves; it’s about self-awareness that prevents self-sabotage.
When we know our blind spots, we can:
- Catch ourselves before our strengths become weaknesses
- Partner with people whose strengths balance ours
- Lead with intention instead of autopilot
- Understand why we keep getting the same feedback from others
WHY AM I SUCH A STRENGTHS GEEK ABOUT THIS?
The CliftonStrengths Assessment doesn’t just tell us what we’re great at, it shows us exactly where those strengths might trip us up. It’s like having a user manual for our own leadership and personal styles, complete with a “warnings and precautions” section.
To ignore this is to live beneath your ability and capability, and that doesn’t sit well with my Achiever [for you].
We’re at our best when we don’t just know our Strengths, but when we know when those Strengths need a seatbelt that harnesses them back in.
If you’ve not experienced a CliftonStrengths training or done a debrief session as an individual, think about what you could discover. You’ll map not just your strengths, but your predictable patterns,the ones that sometimes work brilliantly and sometimes create friction. You’ll finally understand why certain situations energize you while others drain you. And you’ll learn practical strategies to manage these blind spots before they manage you.
Ready to discover what you can’t see on your own? Reach out.
