In leadership, each leader has their own set of leadership assets or strengths and liabilities or weaknesses. As a leader, you have probably mastered the art of focusing and enhancing your leadership assets. You have probably figured out how to have a quiet confidence when you present yourself to others. This is a skill that comes natural to some and must be learned by others. If you are struggling to find your leadership assets, here are a few things you can do to enhance your leadership assets.
1. Focus on the positive.
It can be very easy to get caught up in thinking you are too old, too young, too inexperienced, too experienced, etc. Each of these qualities can be looked at as weaknesses while at the same time they can be made into leadership assets.
For example, rather than thinking you are too inexperienced for a position, you can take the approach that you are not set in your ways like others with more experience. Another example is that instead of thinking of yourself as being too old or experienced, you can take the approach that you have many experiences that will benefit your team so they don’t make the same mistakes again. One key to leveraging your leadership assets is to think of what you bring to the table and look at the positives that come with it.
2. Strengthen your weaknesses.
I have heard multiple outlooks on how much you should focus on your strengths versus your weaknesses. Some people say that you shouldn’t spend any time on strengthening your weaknesses because you should focus solely on magnifying your strengths. The people with this approach believe that if you focus on your weaknesses, you limit your ability to magnify your strengths which just helps you to be more average. On the flip side, there are people that think you should spend all your time on your weaknesses so you are good at everything.
I don’t think that doing completely one or the other by itself is a good approach. As a leader, it is good to look at both your strengths and weaknesses and try to improve them both with a balance. As an example, no one person can be the best scientist, mathematician, psychologist, doctor, athlete, artist, and musician all at the same time. To be the best in each area in takes dedication, hard work, and discipline; so much so, that you can’t do it all at the same time and be successful. If you dedicate your time to one, you will be neglecting the other.
You should, however, be willing to identify specific weaknesses that you have that could be improved through some effort so that you improve overall. For example, you can find specific weaknesses you could improve to do better and then do what you can to improve them. It is foolish to commit the same mistake year after year and never learn or change.
3. Be humble as you recognize your assets.
Even though each leader has their own set of strengths, they still have areas they can improve within those strengths. As a leader, it is important to recognize your strengths while still maintaining your humility. Be willing to do what is necessary to change yourself when necessary. If you go around thinking, knowing, and acting like you are better than everyone else, you will end up burning bridges and people will not like working with you. Instead you must be willing to take criticism and improve as much as you can.
Conclusion
Doing the three things mentioned above will help you to minimize your weaknesses and emphasize your assets which will in turn help you to be more effective as a leader. I have seen the three points help me in my leadership abilities.
Which of the three points has been most helpful for you as a leader? What additional perspective have you gained through applying it as a leader? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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