In life, it’s not really possible to completely go it alone. So don’t! There are so many people in the world with abilities and strengths from all sorts of perspectives. Peers who challenge you are ones that can help you turn your weaknesses into strengths. Here are some tips for making this happen:
· Get To Know The Strengths Of Others
When you view other people by their strengths, you unlock a different way of looking at the world, says Centre of Applied Positive Psychology founding director Dr. Alex Linley. This method allows you to appreciate people by what they can do over the weaknesses you have likely already noticed by now. It teaches you to value the mix of ups and downs that each person comes with and shows you the importance of a diverse mix of strengths and weaknesses in a team. Why is this important? Because it transforms your understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, too.
· Learn From People Of Strength
By surrounding yourself with capable individuals, you are able to learn from them. If you have a weakness in a certain field, being around someone strong in that field lets you learn from their abilities. They can be your mentors – both officially and unofficially! It’s a wonderful way to learn and is called “observational learning” by experts.
· Don’t Be Afraid To Rely On The Strengths Of Others
It is simply not possible to be good at everything. Author and public speaker Dave Rendall states that we’re raised with the idea that having someone help us with something we’re bad at is a negative act. It’s a way of thinking we carry into adulthood, but it’s false. There is simply no way to do it all yourself. There are some weaknesses you may never be able to hone. So learn when to ask for help from those with strengths you lack. Build a team of people who can help each other out and cover each other’s backs and your weaknesses will become the things that help you work with other strong people!
5. Think Of Weaknesses As Blindspots – And Then Try To Face Them
Sometimes, weaknesses are located in places you simply can’t see or think about. That’s why you need to listen closely to constructive criticism and ask for feedback from people you trust and respect. “Leadership Blindspots: How Successful Leaders Identify and Overcome the Weaknesses That Matter” author Robert Bruce Shaw explains that there are many possible reasons for blindspots, including:
- Misaligned incentives
- Gaps in experiences
- Emotional biases
Shaw states that it’s important to accept that blindspots are inevitable. When you accept this, you can stay aware of them and learn to manage them without becoming complacent. Not sure how to find your blindspots? Here are some ways to get started in looking:
- Seek advice from people that you know are skilled, trustworthy, or respectable
- Self-reflect on your actions and behavior, then check in with yourself regularly
- Be your own devil’s advocate; argue with yourself and look for flaws in your statements, logic, and beliefs
- Set up an agreement with a peer to check in with each other on your respective weakness blindspots
6. Look For All The Possibilities
Some people try to rush from identifying a weakness to leaping straight to the most obvious solution to it. But by doing this, you’re skipping a very important step that could provide you with valuable and much-needed insight.
Before you begin embarking on a path to an obvious solution, take the time to list out all the possibilities. Don’t overthink them – just write whatever comes to mind, then read over your list and make notes and changes. Don’t be afraid of sounding silly or weird. This is your private list!
Eventually, you’ll find some great possibilities you may have missed earlier. Need some help? Try asking yourself the following questions:
- What is causing this weakness?
- What are ways the weakness can be improved?
- What are things you’re doing now that are counter-productive?
- What strengths do you have that can fight this weakness?
You can’t avoid having weaknesses. What’s important is learning to pick out ones to work on and find ways to improve on them in powerful ways. Who knows? Maybe a glaring weakness of yours will turn into one of your great strengths in a couple of years with hard work and positive thinking!