Why You Shouldn ’ t Overrely Your Strengths

Given the choice, most people try to play to their strengths. A naturally athletic child will sign up for lots of sports teams; a friendly, outgoing college student who loves being surrounded by people will likely prefer a career in teaching over a job in IT. For the past 20 years, this philosophy — strengths-based theory — has dominated everything from career development and leadership to education and psychology. But research suggests that relying too much on our strengths can lead to major blind spots. A client who I work with as a career coach, “James,” is a great example of a person who can take his strengths too far. Like many managers, James is an expert problem-solver. In every personality assessment he’s ever taken, being analytical is a quality that comes forth as his dominant strength.But at times, James’ tendency to rely on logic in every situation, no matter the context, becomes a roadblock. Type A to a fault, he values structure and planning above all else, which is hard to come by in the fast-paced tech company he works for. And so he can get tripped up when he needs to respond quickly to change, and perhaps alter his previous plans. He becomes paralyzed because he feels out of control. And so his problem-solving strength becomes a handicap. Too much of a good thing In this sense, we’re all a bit like Wonder Woman. The DC comics superhero is masterful warrior because she grows up on the all-female Paradise Island. Her physical strength ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Industrial and Workplace Motivation and Inspiration Perfectionism Source Type: blogs