The Necessity of Being Aware of Your Strengths

Without an awareness of your strengths, it’s almost impossible for you to lead effectively.  We all lead in very different ways, based on our talents and our limitations.  Serious problems occur when we think we need to be exactly like the leaders we admire.  Doing so takes us out of our natural element and practically eliminates our chances of success.

– Tom Rath and Barry Conchie, Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Great Teams and the People Who Follow Them, copyright 2008, page 10

The Misconception of the Well-Rounded Leader

If you spend your life trying to be good at everything, you will never be great at anything.  While our society encourages us to be well-rounded, this approach inadvertently breeds mediocrity.  Perhaps the greatest misconception of all is that of the well-rounded leader.

– Tom Rath and Barry Conchie, Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams and Why People Follow Them, copyright 2008, page 7