Successful Leaders Don't Hire Like-Minded People

I did a leader's strengths assessment debrief yesterday who is struggling in his role, well, with his team really. During the hour as we were discussing his strengths he said "Why has nobody ever told me this?"

That's because companies aren't interested in the individuals but rather in fitting their managers and leaders into generic leadership styles or behavioural competency frameworks. But what are we exactly trying to fit into those?

People's strengths and personalities and we do that without knowing or understanding them. Blindly chiselling away........

By acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses, they gain a deeper understanding of how to attain competency standards in a manner that is invigorating rather than exhausting. This approach allows individuals to avoid the need to twist themselves in various ways to fulfil their employer's competency requirements.

In a world where the focus is still on employees meeting competency requirements, the distinctiveness of a strengths-based leader becomes evident when compared to a leader who aims to be well-rounded and fulfil every competency set by their employer as their primary goal.

Leaders often don't have an awareness of their strengths and without that leading effectively is impossible. Decades of Gallup studies found three main characteristics of effective leaders:

• They know their strengths.

• They build teams based on their strengths and weaknesses to maximise effectiveness. Meaning, their teams are assembled to represent all four strengths domains. They do not hire like-minded people.

• They understand why people follow them. They know what they need and expect from the leader.

If you lead or manage people ask yourself these questions today;

• Do I know my strengths (It is not about your Excel skills)?

• Does my team have doers, strategic thinkers, relationship builders, and influencers?

• Why do they or would they follow me?

But here is the catch, how would you have these answers without getting first-hand information?

The moment you understand that competencies are for a team and not for the individuals it changes the game.

If you need help building a Strengths-Based Leadership Culture drop us a message: info@thestrengthscompany.com