How do you optimize team member strengths?

1 What are strengths?

Strengths are the natural talents, skills, and abilities that you and your team members enjoy using and excel at. They are not just what you are good at, but what you love doing and feel energized by. Research shows that using your strengths can boost your productivity, creativity, well-being, and resilience. As a people manager, you can help your team members discover and use their strengths more effectively, and create a positive and supportive work environment.

2 How to identify strengths

One of the first steps to optimize team member strengths is to help them identify what they are. This can be done through reflection on past achievements and feedback, using a strengths assessment tool, observing them in action, and providing regular and specific feedback. Asking them to list the strengths they used in certain situations, taking a VIA Character Strengths Survey, CliftonStrengths Finder, or Strengths Profile to measure their strengths across different domains and levels, noticing when they are in flow, engaged, and confident, and encouraging them to share their feedback with each other are all effective methods.

3 How to leverage strengths

Once you and your team members have identified their strengths, you can leverage them to enhance their performance, motivation, and satisfaction. To do this, you can assign tasks and projects that align with their strengths, giving them autonomy and flexibility to use their strengths in their own way. Additionally, create opportunities for them to learn from and collaborate with others who have complementary strengths, as well as recognize and celebrate their achievements based on their strengths. It is also important to challenge them to stretch and grow their strengths, applying them in new and different contexts. All of these efforts will link the team and organizational goals.

4 How to avoid pitfalls

Optimizing team member strengths is a powerful way to improve your people management skills and outcomes. By identifying, leveraging, and developing the strengths of your team members, you can create a high-performing, engaged, and collaborative team that delivers results and enjoys their work. However, there are some pitfalls to be aware of when optimizing strengths. For example, overusing a strength can lead to imbalance, burnout, or negative outcomes, while underusing a strength can lead to boredom, frustration, or disengagement. Additionally, ignoring or dismissing weaknesses can interfere with performance and relationships. Lastly, it's important to avoid creating silos or stereotypes based on strengths; instead foster a culture of diversity, inclusion, and respect in your team. As a people manager, it's important to monitor and balance the use of strengths in your team and help them adjust accordingly; as well as help your team members identify and manage their weaknesses.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?