Work in your Strength Areas

It is true that weaknesses can become strengths, but you didn’t hire your employees for their weaknesses. People work at their peak when they know they are cared about—when they are able to operate in an environment of trust, respect, empowerment and gratitude for their contribution. And when they are doing something: 1. At which they are particularly good 2. and that they believe makes a difference. Marcus Buckingham recommends asking your employees what was their best day at work in the last 6 months. That will give you a clue as to their strength zones, the things at which they naturally excel. And here’s a tip: once you know an employees strength zone, let them work within it. It will release their creativity, zest and excitement. You hired your people for their strengths, not their weaknesses, right? So why would you spend all of your time trying to improve their weaknesses? Don’t send your star sales performer to a class on how to create more effective Excel spreadsheets, unless it is integral to your business. This happened to Michael. Every time he sat down to do his Excel reports, he would lose his excitement and enthusiasm and wasn’t able to perform well, even after they sent him to the class. But just turn him loose in a sales environment where he was able to shine! John Maxwell suggests you hire the right people, give them great tools and get out of their way. How are you doing with this at your company? Do you hire the right people? Are you giving them the right tools they need to do the job and are you letting them do the things for which you hired them? Get out of the way of your employees and let them do the things they are naturally gifted to do. How are you doing with this in your career? Are you playing to your strengths, or are you constantly focused on your weaknesses? Recognize your own talents and then refine them so you are an expert in those areas. As Maxwell says, people pay for experts, not mediocrity. To your success!