Sharing weakness, sharing strength

Ken Blanchard wrote a bestseller in 1982, The One Minute Manager, which Brene` quotes on page 98 of Dare to Lead. “Catch people doing things right.” Embrace what we discover and plan accordingly. This includes the ways both us and others are “getting it right.”

As we are able, lead with our strengths and remain humbly aware of our perennial weaknesses. Help others do the same. This encourages transformation. The New Year’s resolutions we made in early January might need tweaking. They may be more focused on a perceived weakness than a strength. This is one reason resolutions are often so unproductive. Far better for us if we work within our strengths and find support for our weaknesses.

I am terrible with details. My life is managed by a few people who are GREAT with details. I can go on and on about my limitations, try to fake it, blame others for my mistakes, etc. OR I could own the limitations.

My work does not require me to be good with details so long as someone is paying attention to the details that are part of my work and home life. I need to acknowledge what I do that is a strength that others cannot do quite as effectively. Our strengths are often taken for granted by us as we practice them. They seem so natural to us that if we aren’t careful we will minimize them, thinking that EVERYBODY can do THAT. Well guess what? Everybody cannot. And SOMEBODY is not going to work on what is our work to do. Know your value and find support for that which gets in the way of you exercising your strengths effectively! This is perhaps one of the most liberating and exciting part of the transformation process.

What words of affirmation have you received that can help you figure out strengths that you may be minimizing? Who are you? How do you roll? Who can help you shore up your weak spots? Whose weak spots can you help shore up using your strengths? Together, we can become a bigger, healthier, happier and more effective family!