Tapping into the strengths of others...

If you work within an organization of any type, you most likely work with a wide array and variety of people. The colleagues with whom you work bring a ton of different experiences and unique thoughts to the table. These experiences and thoughts ultimately drive their approach and response to occurrences that happen on a daily basis at the work place.

Along with these different experiences and unique thoughts, each member of an organization has a unique and personalized set of strengths, as well as weaknesses...

Great leaders & great organizations seek out & identify the strengths & weaknesses of their colleagues. Once these strengths and weaknesses have been discovered, members of the organization are put in situations that capitalize on their strengths while minimizing their weaknesses. Doing this requires candid and straight forward discussions between colleagues; doing this requires trust and strong relationships. Most importantly, it requires all leaders to not only know their colleagues, but to know them well enough to know where they can do the most good.

In my opinion, the most difficult discussion to have with a colleague involves their placement and role within the organization, especially if this role is not their idea or their first choice. As a leader you have the ability to see a more global picture of the organization, which means you can see how all the pieces fit together rather than a more hyper focused picture of individuals and departments/teams. The proper placement tied to the strengths of those within your organization is absolutely critical when it comes to moving any organization or team forward.

Perhaps the most important message I would like to convey in this post is that of discovering & harnessing the strengths of those within your organization. We are surrounded by individuals with hidden & undiscovered strengths on a daily basis, & it's those leaders who are able to tap into these strengths who will have the most success in helping to position their organizations for greatness.

As a current or aspiring leader, please recognize the importance of taking the time to get to know your colleagues. Get to know them well enough that you can comfortably know where they can do the most good based on their strengths. When people are placed where they can do the most good, all members of the organization end up benefiting...

Challenge yourself to find out more about your colleagues, and don't limit yourself to just professional interests. Learning about the personal interests and hobbies of your colleagues can lead to a more passionate workplace where outside talents can be utilized to enhance the overall environment. Enjoy getting to know your colleagues, because they will enjoy getting to know you and each other...