What Are My Strengths?

The Strengths Grid

For the past few years, Marcus Buckingham has been trying to change the definitions of 'strength' and 'weakness'.
The old definition of a strength was 'something you're good at'. Marcus says it's 'something that strengthens you'.
The old definition of a weakness was 'something you're not good at'. Marcus says it's 'something that weakens you'.

I side with Marcus. I think his definitions are great, and useful. 

But I'm also a realist... It's not likely that we'll be able to throw out the old definition, particularly in the business environment. So, I think we need both definitions. 

Above, I've created a 2x2 matrix, with the traditional definition of strengths and weaknesses on the left and Marcus' definitions on the bottom.

It's pretty simple:

• If you're not good at something and it weakens you - run!
  Don't do it. Only an idiot would ask you to.
• If you're not good at something and it strengthens you - it's either a hobby or something you're in training for.
  If it's a hobby, no one will pay you to do it, but do it anyway... it's fun and you'll grow.
  If it's a training situation, keep working at it.
• If you're good at it, and it strengthens you - Wow! That's perfect.
  You should seek those opportunities. And your company should want you to be here.
• If you're good at it, and it weakens you - that's a 'leverage skill'.
  You can trade this for 'Wow' or 'Hobby/Training' tasks, just like a Hollywood actor who makes a crappy romantic comedy in exchange for a green light on his independent film.

Exercise: Take your work activities and plot them on this grid.
How does your grid look? Like most 2x2's, you want to be 'high and to the right'.

Your company should be motivated to keep you in the 'good at it'  boxes.
You should be motivated to stay in the 'strengthens me'  boxes.
Hopefully you can work with your manager to satisfy both, and stay in the Wow box...

Links of Interest:

• My other Marcus Buckingham posts
• Marcusbuckingham.com
• Marcus Buckingham books and dvds at Amazon.com