Our Greatest Strengths are Our Greatest Weaknesses
Have you ever wondered why some of the qualities that make you successful can sometimes cause friction or challenges? The very strengths that set you apart, when overused or misunderstood, can become liabilities.
Gallup’s strengths-based approach highlights the importance of recognizing blind spots — those areas where our dominant talents can create challenges when we’re unaware of how they impact others.
When Strengths Are "Starved," "Overused" or "Unmanaged"
✅ Starved – When a strength is underutilized, leading to frustration, disengagement, and a lack of fulfillment. For example, someone with high Ideation® may feel stifled in a role that doesn’t allow for brainstorming or creative problem-solving.
⚠️ Overused – It’s overused to the point where it becomes counterproductive. Someone with Achiever® might push themselves (and their team) so hard to meet goals that they risk burnout and damaged relationships.
❌ Unmanaged – It operates without awareness, leading to inconsistency, overuse, or underuse. For example, someone with high Communication® may naturally enjoy sharing ideas and telling stories. But when unmanaged, they might dominate conversations, unintentionally leaving little room for others to contribute or feel heard.
Case Study: The Achiever Who Pushed Too Hard
Take Sarah, a senior project manager who leads with Achiever®. Her drive and relentless focus on getting things done propelled her career forward. But when left unchecked, her intensity created an environment where her team felt overwhelmed and disconnected. Sarah’s strength, when overused, became her greatest weakness.
After identifying this blind spot through CliftonStrengths coaching, Sarah learned to balance her Achiever® talents by leaning into her Empathy® and Individualization® talents. She became more in tune with the team’s emotional needs and started recognizing when to pause and celebrate progress, rather than constantly pushing for the next milestone.
Blind Spots: What You Don’t See Can Hurt You
Gallup emphasizes that blind spots emerge when we fail to recognize how our strengths impact others. It’s not that our strengths are inherently bad — it’s that they need to be managed with awareness, intention, and purpose.
Here’s how to identify and mitigate blind spots:
1️⃣ Seek Feedback: Ask trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors how your strengths show up. Are they helping or hindering your relationships and effectiveness?
2️⃣ Find a Counterbalance: Pair your dominant strengths with complementary talents from a partner. For instance, Strategic® talents can temper their fast decision-making by seeking input from those with Deliberative® talents. Refer to the Week 10 article in this series for more info on Powerful Partnerships.
3️⃣ Pause and Reflect: Regularly assess whether your strengths are helping or hurting. Are they aligned with your goals, or are they being overused to the point of diminishing returns?
Turning Weaknesses Back into Strengths
The beauty of strengths-based development is that once we become aware of our blind spots, we can make intentional adjustments. Instead of dialing down our strengths, we learn how to refine and balance them.
Just like Sarah, you can transform your greatest weakness back into your greatest strength by staying mindful, seeking feedback, and practicing balance.
When is the last time you looked at your CliftonStrengths All 34 Report?
Your report provides the blind spots for your dominant talents. Maybe it's time to pull out that report! I’d also be happy to coaching you through any questions you might have. Don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a complimentary consultation call!
