Tap the Power of Weaknesses

Everyone sucks at something.

Stop pretending everyone is great at everything.

Exercise

Call a team meeting where everyone names one weakness, including you. (This only works in high-trust environments.)

“I’m not good at ….” Don’t humble-brag by saying, “I’m not good at taking time off.”

Write your name on the board along with one of your weaknesses.

• What do you do poorly?
• When do you fall short?
• Where are you getting small returns on large investments?

No Weakness

When people don’t have weaknesses…

1. You need to know people better.
2. The wool is pulled over your eyes.
3. Organizational values include, “Don’t make waves.”

Weakness Maxim: Remarkable strengths come with predictable liabilities.

1. Decisiveness leads to impatience.
2. Creativity comes with inconsistency.
3. Generosity has weak boundaries.
4. Loyalty includes blind spots.
5. Compassion leans toward avoidance.

Tap the Power of Weaknesses

Weaknesses become useful when they’re visible.

1. Let go. Is this weakness worth addressing? Don’t fight what you plan to tolerate.
2. Buy-in. What are you willing to do to help strengthen their weakness, specifically?
3. Reassign. What responsibility do you need to take away to protect them from their weakness?
4. Refocus. How might you focus someone on their highest usefulness?
5. Compensate. How will we compensate for each other’s gaps?

Reality

Frailties are like noses. Pretending you don’t have one looks ridiculous.

Spend less energy pretending and more energy performing.

Don’t turn the lights on if you don’t have courage and compassion to deal with the mess.

What weaknesses create friction on your team?

The Surprising Power of 10 Weaknesses

When to Open Up at Work—and When Not To HBR