Improve Your Team by Focusing on its Strengths, Not Weaknesses
Posted March 24th, 2016
As a manager, is it your job to minimize your team’s weaknesses or maximize their strengths? This is a question that all managers must ask themselves, but finding the answer is never easy. The good news is that a growing body of research and even more anecdotal evidence are beginning to make it clear that a focus on strengths rather than weaknesses produces better results over the long term. Implement the strategies below to make your current strengths even stronger.
- Define Strengths – We’re not always aware of our own strengths. Take the time to sit down with each team member, and describe what they do really well and how they make the biggest impact to the team. That way team members know what to focus on moving forward.
- Educate the Team – Bring your whole team together to have a conversation about each other’s strengths and how those strengths benefit the people they work with. Your team can make better use of each other’s strengths once they understand how the parts add up to the whole.
- Assign Strategically – As you delegate responsibilities, make sure that each person’s assignment reflects his or her strengths. Otherwise, you’re just wasting the talent that is your very best resource.
- Review Differently – Weaknesses and deficiencies are often the focus of performance reviews. Instead, focus on strengths. Identify what each person does well, and assign performance goals centered around those abilities.
- Train Accordingly – Instead of trying to train your team out of its weaknesses, focus on accentuating its strengths. In practice, this approach makes the training process a lot more valuable to you and everyone involved.
- Develop Specifically – Like training, make strengths the priority of your professional development initiatives. Encourage everyone to get better at what they already do well.
- Be Proactive – If someone on your team shows particular promise, seek them out and offer them opportunities to get even better. Don’t wait for them to come to you.
- Assign Mentors – Having your team members mentor each other is a great way to cross train. Pair a team member strong in one area with a team member weak in the same area. Both will get something out of the process.
- Be Flexible – Accentuating the strengths on your team can take some flexibility on your part. If someone needs time off to attend a conference or certification course, be as accommodating as you can. You’ll reap rewards down the road.
If your team is missing a strength you need right now, you may need to add a staff member. To find a professional that can bring exciting abilities to the table, contact Bayside Solutions.
