Should You Really Only Focus on Your Strengths?
Many people tell you to only focus on your strengths.
After all, it is a lot more fun to work on something that you are good at than it is to work on a skill you have no talent in.
To an extent this works. When you find something that you are good at, it makes sense to capitalize on that talent. But I find it a bit limiting. You just have to get good at some things.
Instead of asking whether or not we possess a natural talent in a skill, let’s ask a better question: Will even a marginal improvement in this skill contribute to further success in areas where I do possess natural talent?
For example, I am not a very good at verbal communication. I stumble over words. I get my thoughts into a tangled mess. For that reason, I do a lot more listening than speaking — I am naturally a good listener. Does that mean I should focus only on becoming a BETTER listener?
No. Speaking and conveying my thoughts verbally is something I have to get good at. Even if I never become an amazing public speaker, working to patch up that hole in my skill set will have a massive effect on other areas of my life, both professional and personal.
Sometimes it is not a matter of your level of talent in a certain area. Sometimes it comes down to how important that skill is to your overall success.
Granted, my lack of talent in verbal communication means I probably should not pursue a career as a therapist. Fixing weaknesses should not be my sole focus, but they should not be ignored either.
By learning to speak more effectively and convey my thoughts more clearly, my listening skills have improved. I have become a bit more patient when people have trouble expressing themselves. I’m more confident in myself, my ideas and my message. Even though I have only seen a marginal return on my time invested in fixing my weakness, I am seeing far greater benefits in other areas.
