I am currently reading the book The Perils of Accentuating the Positive, edited by Robert Kaiser. Now, talking about being "too positive" is not particularly endearing. How does one argue for negativity? And it is clear that Positive Psychology and the Strengths-based Movement have made significant contributions to the management field, especially in clarifying the need to help successful leaders become even more effective through coaching and development programs. But this book puts forth a compelling, research-based argument that too much emphasis on strengths can be a problem and there is a need for greater balance.
Some of the issues they raise….
- Not all strengths are created equally – some matter more than others to the success of individuals and companies.
- Strengths overused become weaknesses.
- Weaknesses really do matter – how many people fail or derail because of their strengths?
- Sometimes your personal strengths are not what are needed to get the job done – for example, strengths in one context may be weaknesses in another.
- We are in danger of developing Lopsided Leadership. As the saying goes "If you are a hammer everything looks like a nail."
Today we need well-rounded leaders who are versatile, adaptable and agile. Yes, understanding and fully developing one’s strengths is important. But addressing weaknesses as well creates a more balanced approach to leadership and is a greater recipe for success. Positively
What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the Comments field below.
Copyright © 2010 Betty Doo
Thanks for your comment, David. You might want to check out this book, its a fairly brief and accessible read.
I realize this premise will not be appealing to strong proponents of a strengths-based approach and positive psychology. I am actually a supporter of positive psychology and cognizant of the value in building upon one’s strengths. The primary argument here is that ignoring weaknesses will not make them go away, no matter how strong your strengths become, and they can be significant obstacles to success. Therefore, it is prudent to address both strengths and liabilities.
If you do get a chance to read the book I would love to hear your critique. Thanks for reading my post and giving your perspective. – Betty
Betty,
Great post. I hadn’t heard of this book and I’d love to check it out.
However, I couldn’t disagree more with the premise of the book. First of all, the idea of fixing weaknesses isn’t new. We’ve been encouraging people to overcome their flaws and become well-rounded for years. What has it gotten us? How has it helped people to succeed?
The positive psychology movement began because the former system wasn’t working. This book isn’t necessary. Most people are still trying to fix their flaws and be more balanced. There isn’t an over-abundance of people trying to build their strengths.
David Rendall