Risk & Business Magazine Branch Benefits Consultants Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 26

The Freak Factor

Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness

We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable , worth listening to , worthy of our trust , sacred to our touch .
-E . E . CUMMINGS

The most common approach to self improvement is to build on strengths and fix weaknesses , usually with special attention to fixing weaknesses . This is prevalent at work where annual appraisals are focused on overcoming our apparent limitations . Similarly , in homes and schools , parents and teachers expect children to excel in all academic subjects , athletic activities and social skills . Those who are lacking in any particular area are confronted with their flaws and given strategies for improvement .

The obvious goal of these remediation efforts is to foster success by producing well-rounded people . However , do these efforts really work and is being wellrounded a worthy or realistic goal ? My experience as an individual , professor , parent and leader indicates that efforts to fix weaknesses are ineffective . Furthermore , I believe that the goal of being well-rounded is both undesirable and impossible to attain . So what is the alternative ? In this article I ’ ll share a four-step process for getting better by embracing your weaknesses and amplifying them , instead of fixing them .
AWARENESS - WEAKNESSES ARE IMPORTANT CLUES TO OUR STRENGTHS
“ We are led to truth by our weaknesses as well as our strengths .”
-PARKER PALMER , LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK
Each of us has unique characteristics . These characteristics have both positive and negative features . These features , which we usually refer to as strengths and weaknesses , cannot be separated . They come in pairs . The positive and negative elements are inextricably linked .
This claim may seem outrageous and that is why I created the chart below . It lists 16 strengths and their corresponding weaknesses . Do any of these resonate with you ? Have you seen these pairs in your own life or the lives of friends , co-workers or employees ?
STRENGTH Creative Organized Dedicated Flexible Enthusiastic Calm Reflective Adventurous Responsible Positive Realistic Assertive Humble Self-Confident Patient Passionate
WEAKNESS Unorganized Inflexible Stubborn Inconsistent Obnoxious Emotionless Shy Irresponsible Boring Unrealistic Negative Intimidating Weak Arrogant Indecisive Impatient
Unfortunately , instead of seeing a weakness as natural and unavoidable consequence of its corresponding strength , we see weakness as a problem to be eliminated . Our efforts to eliminate weakness are doomed to fail because any characteristic has particular advantages and disadvantages .
ACCEPTANCE - APPARENT WEAKNESSES ARE STRENGTHS IN DISGUISE
“ Strong people always have strong weaknesses too . Where there are peaks , there are valleys .”
-PETER DRUCKER
When I ask students and seminar participants if they should fix weaknesses , build strengths or do both , most choose to do both . However , there are a number of problems with this approach . Most importantly , since weaknesses and strengths are linked , attempting to fix a weakness can actually diminish the corresponding strength . This fact is best illustrated by the discount retail industry .
Walmart ’ s main strength is low prices and its weaknesses include poor quality merchandise , long lines and unhelpful employees . On the other hand , Target ’ s main strengths are higher quality products from well-known designers , attractive stores and helpful associates who are quick to open a new checkout lane . Unfortunately , Target ’ s weakness is that its prices are not as low as those at Walmart .
So , what would happen if Walmart tried to do both ? What if they tried to build on their strengths and fix their weaknesses ? What would happen to their low prices , their primary strength , as they added better products and extra employees at the registers ? The answer is simple , their prices would climb , thus diminishing their strength .
Similarly , what if Target decided to fix their weakness by lowering prices ? What would happen to the level of customer service and the great products that give them their advantage if they focused more on cost cutting ? Again , the answer is straightforward , their quality and service would decrease , thus diminishing their strength .
If you don ’ t believe me , just look at Kmart . Kmart provides an illustration of what happens when a company , or individual ,
26