Stop Fixing Your Leadership "Weaknesses"

Happy Friday

Leadership development often focuses on fixing perceived weaknesses. 

But what if we're starting from the wrong premise entirely?

Here's a radical thought: What if those "weaknesses" are actually your leadership superpowers in disguise? Let me explain...

As Claire Peet said in our recent podcast episode Invisible Obstacles, Unstoppable Women Leaders: 

The key isn't fixing these traits. It's creating conditions where different leadership styles can flourish.

What This Might Look Like in Practice:

1. Meeting Design

• Allocate space for quick decisions with reflection time

• Offer pre-meeting preparation options

• Create multiple channels for input (not just who speaks loudest)

2. Team Communication

• Avoid ambiguous phrases like "Bring your A-game" 

• Provide both written and verbal feedback opportunities

• Acknowledge different processing styles

3. Leadership Development

• Stop trying to mold everyone into the same leadership type

• Don’t be afraid to start leveraging unique perspectives

• Be open to different approaches to excellence

Ask Yourself:

• Which of your leadership "weaknesses" might actually be strengths?

• How could you create conditions for different styles to thrive?

• What would change if you stopped trying to "fix" and started trying to enable?

Leadership isn't about finding the "right" way to lead and sticking with that. Instead, we need to spaces where multiple ways of leading can flourish.

So I’m curious, what strength have you been trying to fix?

Have a great weekend and, if you celebrate, a wonderful Christmas.

Shane

P.S. Feel free to reach out with any questions or to start a conversation about any of the points above - I reply to every email!

Here’s some of my latest podcast episodes to take you in to the holiday.