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“I don’t know what happened.”

• “We hired this person to get results and now their team is so frustrated and burned out, we are getting worse results than ever.”
• “We hired this person to do creative work, but, now, all we have is chaos.”
• “We hired this person for their ability to create a flow for the team and systems, and now we are stuck.”
• “We hired this person for their analytical ability, but we’re still waiting for the report.”

The Culprit

Is it a case of bad hiring? Or something else?

In each of these scenarios, it is not a hiring issue. Each of these employees is uniquely equipped for their respective role.

It is something that is seldom addressed, and that is what happens when strengths go into overdrive.

Strengths are each person’s superpower. Used well, they serve the individual and their teams well. But there are times when strengths go ungoverned, and that is when they go into overdrive.

Strengths in overdrive can become weaknesses.

• Driven becomes Domineering
• Ideation becomes Distraction
• Peace becomes Passivity
• Analysis becomes Paralysis

The Results

When this happens, the results can be frustration, chaos, and an overall lack of progress.

The Solution

There are two key factors that will bring strengths back into balance.

Education

One of the most important things you can do as a leader is help each person on your team become educated with regard to their best strengths and how they add value to the team.

It is also important that they understand how their combination of strengths works together to create an inner balance.

And it is important to explore weaknesses and ways to avoid those in the workplace.

Collaboration

Across a team, the value of different strengths becomes very evident. Independently, each person will have a range of focus. But, together, there is a broader range that is both complementary and highly effective.

It looks like this.

• A D-wired person will take charge and get an initiative off the ground.
• An I-wired person will bring much-needed creativity, connection, and marketing focus.
• An S-wired person will pull the team and systems together to carry it through to completion.
• And a C-wired person will ensure quality and compliance.

All are needed.

And if one person’s strengths go into overdrive, other team members can create balance and accountability.

• Where the D-wired person loses patience with details, the S-wired person can pick up and carry the project to the finish line.
• Where the I-wired person gets overwhelmed with all the people and ideas, the S-wired person can filter priorities and keep things on task.
• Where the S-wired person loses steam, the I-wired person can bring fresh ideas and fun to re-energize the project and team.
• And where the C-wired person gets stuck in analysis, the D-wired person can provide the power to help them pull through it.

This symbiotic collaboration creates an amazing team dynamic.

The Application

How are you and your team operating?

• Is each person serving in a role that allows them to operate in their strengths?
• Does each team member know their strengths?
• Is the team balanced in the use of these strengths?

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!